What I do

I investigate the characteristics of socially and environmentally sustainable economies and how we can organize the transitions from today's systems to new, sustainable ones. In my work, I combine quantitative and qualitative empirical research with inter- and transdisciplinary methods. My research focuses, among other topics, on green growth and degrowth, the digital transformation of the economy, and the political economy of right-wing authoritarianism.

My work is not only discussed within academia but also resonates with organizations such as the World Bank, UNEP, the European Commission, the European Environmental Bureau, and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment. I am a frequent public speaker and collaborate closely with policymakers and civil society actors - aiming not just to study sustainable economies, but to help bring them to life.

In addition to my position at the University of Siegen, I serve as the country representative for Germany at the European Society for Ecological Economics and as a board member of Common Future and Impact AI. Previously, I conducted research at the Technical University of Berlin, the University of Münster, and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research. I hold a PhD from the University of Hamburg.

What's new?

The latest highlights

Latest highlights

07.10.2025

Growth booster?

A commentary by Dr. Steffen Lange on the "growth booster/investment booster" from the German government.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMGJxHksi1p/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Research

02.10.2025

Growth independence: New publication

New publication by Dr. Steffen Lange published

Together with Stefanie Gerold and Katharina Bohnenberger, Steffen Lange has published an article on the "Growth dependency of labor markets and strategies to overcome it". The text has been published in the anthology "Wirtschaftswachstum zwischen Fortschritt, Abhängigkeit und Zwang" (Metropolis-Verlag, Marburg 2025, ed. by Tobias Vogel).

The authors analyze why labor markets are so dependent on economic growth and discuss concrete strategies to reduce this dependency - from a reorientation of technological change to shorter working hours and job sharing to socio-ecological job guarantees and new forms of livelihood security.

👉 Link to the article.

General Public

02.10.2025

Business is better!

Public event on 06.10.25 in Berlin, with Dr. Steffen Lange

https://www.eventbrite.de/e/wirtschaft-geht-besser-tickets-1670628247059?aff=dsl

Program:

Sarina Spiegel talks about her new book on rethinking our economy.
We discuss with Dr. Steffen Lange from the University of Siegen how we can meet the challenges of change in our economic systems.
Martin Oetting has been talking about these topics and our work on his YouTube channel for a few months now - we very much hope to meet some of the people who have discovered our initiative this way on the evening.

My research profile

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

Does digitalization and AI make our economy more sustainable by increasing energy and resource efficiencies? Or is it the other way around - more digital devices consume more energy and additionally lead to rebound effects and economic growth? We also need to ask how social inequalities are effected and whether we face new challenges regarding concentration of economic and political power. In light of such analyses, I develop concepts how digitalization can be used for a social-ecological transformation.

In brief:

Digitalization, AI and Sustainability
Climate Mitigation, Decoupling and Post-Growth Economics
The Political Economy of Right-Wing Authoritarianism: Causes and Political Responses

Books

2018

Macroeconomics Without Growth

Sustainable Economies in Neoclassical, Keynesian and Marxian Theories
How can we organize our economies without growth? "Macroeconomics Without Growth' provides a comprehensive understanding of how non-growing economies can be sustainable. With this book, Steffen Lange brings new momentum into the debate on post-growth, degrowth and steady state economies. The book delves deep into economic theory to understand how a macro-economy can operate without growth. By applying a highly diverse set of theories - from Neoclassical, Keynesian and Marxian traditions - the book is able to cover a wide range of macroeconomic aspects: Is zero growth possible in a capitalist economic system? What happens to aggregate demand and aggregate supply when economies stop growing? And what role do firms, markets and technological change play in post-growth economies?

to the book

2018

Smarte grüne Welt

Digitalisierung zwischen Überwachung, Konsum und Nachhaltigkeit
Die Digitalisierung ist einer der gesellschaftlichen Megatrends - darin sind sich alle einig. Doch was bedeutet sie ganz konkret für Ökologie und Gerechtigkeit? Führt die Digitalisierung in eine smarte grüne Welt, in der alle vom technologischen Fortschritt profitieren und wir zugleich schonender mit der Umwelt umgehen? Oder steuern wir auf einen digitalen Turbokapitalismus zu, in dem einige wenige Geld und Macht in Händen halten und die Wirtschaft noch weiter über die planetaren Grenzen hinauswächst?

to the book

2018

Digital Reset

Redirecting Technologies for the Deep Sustainability Transformation
Time seems out of joint. The world society has experienced a centennial pandemic, the global thermometer has displayed a sequence of hottest years on record, and Russia's war on Ukraine has shattered political order. Unsurprisingly, the economy is severely affected. Governments worldwide hope that digital technologies can provide key solutions. Yet this report shows that digitalisation, in its current and mainstream form, is rather aggravating than solving many of the pressing social and environmental crises at hand. What is needed instead is a deep sustainability transformation

to the book

Videos

Here you find a selection of videos.
You can find more here: Steffen Lange Youtube

Publications

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Book chapter

2019