Economy and society are facing fundamental structural change that is driven by the digitalization of production and consumption. Concepts such as the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) or (in Germany) ‘Industry 4.0’ are regarded as new strategies for economic growth. Respective social and ecological impacts, however, have not yet been comprehensively investigated. This research group will empirically analyze potential rebound risks and identify opportunities for sustainable forms of consumption and for “sufficiency” in the three areas of mobility, food consumption/commerce, and housing (SmartHome). The PhD and habilitation projects will also develop policy tools and governance instruments designing digitalization in a way that contributes to a social-ecological transformation into a degrowth society. The research group is a joint project of the Technical University of Berlin and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research in cooperation with partners from industry, policy-making and trade unions.

Project Management:

• Prof. Dr. Tilman Santarius (Sociology)
  Contact

Members of the Junior Research Group:

• Vivian Frick, TU-Berlin, Center for Technology and Society and Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW)
  Contact

• Maike Gossen,
  Technical University of Berlin, Department of Economic Education and Sustainable Consumption; Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW)
  Contact

• Anja Höfner, Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW)
  Contact

• Dr. Steffen Lange, Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW)
  Contact

• Johanna Pohl, TU-Berlin, Center for Technology and Society
  Contact

• Christian Uhle, Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW)
  Contact