What I do

My research is on the economics and political economy of a social-ecological transformation. It starts with (1) environmental sustainability questions, such as which measures would mitigate climate change, how these can be implemented and what this has to do with economic growth. In parallel, (2) I examine how economic systems can be (re)structured to ensure social justice and enable a good life for all, while simultaneously confronting the rise of anti-democratic movements that threaten these goals. Finally, (3) I investigate how these challenges intersect with the ongoing technological revolution in digitalization and artificial intelligence.

(1) Economic Growth and the Environment: Climate Mitigation, Decoupling and Post-Growth Economics

The relationship between economic growth and environmental sustainability raises the question of whether growth helps reduce environmental throughput or whether there are inherent limits to growth. Since my early years as a student, I have been concerned with these issues, focusing in my dissertation on the macroeconomic conditions for sustainable economies without growth. Currently, I investigate how climate neutrality pathways intersect with economic growth. Climate change has made it clear that incremental adjustments are insufficient to prevent catastrophic consequences, which has created a high demand for transformative ideas. Post-growth economics, as the science of sustainable economies without growth, seeks to address this challenge by radically decreasing environmental throughput while fostering social justice and strengthening democracy in both economic and political institutions.

(2) The Political Economy of Right-Wing Authoritarianism: Causes and Policy Responses

In numerous countries, right-wing authoritarian parties have been gaining political prominence. Concurrently, discussions surrounding the concept of "anti-fascist economics" have garnered increasing attention. This study addresses two closely related research questions: first, what are the economic factors driving the rise of these movements, and second, to what extent-and through which mechanisms-can economic policies mitigate or counteract this trend?

(3) Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability