Cornerstones of a sustainable welfare model as a basis for environmental policy descision makers

A synopsis of political welfare concepts, which are currently discussed under labels such as "green growth", "zero growth" and "degrowth", has identified fundamental shortcomings concerning the informational bases of the complex links between ecological, social and economic systems, which were taken into account in the creation of the concept. In the development of a concept for political action, a rationally acting environmental policy cannot neglect reflecting on which economic, ecological and social contexts have to be taken into account and on which normative statements its decisions should be grounded. The proposed sustainable welfare model consists of a positive impact and a normative decision model. The positive model provides a description of the "world" with which the effects of the various options for action on the environmental, social and the economic systems can be assessed. The normative model is a tool for selecting and assessing the options for action in pursuing the desired goal of sustainable welfare development. Principally the key environmental goals are prearranged to socio-economic goals. The model at hand provides the reference points for the development of a sustainable welfare concept, which can be used as a political action plan in the context of environmental policy.

Publications
Ahlert, G., Distelkamp, M. & Meyer, M. (2017): Structures of a welfare-oriented sustainable impact assessment model and practical implementation experiences. , In: Diemer A., Dierickx, F., Gladkyh, G., Morales, M.E., Parrique, T. & Torres, J. (eds.): Europe and Sustainable Developement, Challenges and Prospects, Editions Oeconomia, pp. 23-44.
Meyer, B. (2016): Die Modellierung der Großen Transformation. , in: Held, M., Kubon-Gilke, G. & Sturn, R. (Hrsg.): Jahrbuch Normative und institutionelle Grundfragen der Ökonomik, Band 15: Politische Ökonomik großer Transformationen, Metropolis Verlag, Marburg.
Meyer, B., Ahlert, G., Zieschank, R., Diefenbacher, H. & Nutzinger, H. (2013): Eckpunkte eines ökologisch tragfähigen Wohlfahrtskonzepts. GWS Research Report 2013/1, Osnabrück.
Meyer, B., Ahlert, G., Zieschank, R., Diefenbacher, H. & Nutzinger, H. (2013): Synopsis of Approaches to Welfare and of Green Growth Concepts Currently under Discussion. GWS Discussion Paper 13/1, Osnabrück.
Meyer, B., Ahlert, G., Zieschank, R. & Diefenbacher, H. (2012): Grundstrukturen eines nachhaltigen Wohlfahrtsmodells und Implikationen für die Politik. GWS Discussion Paper 12/6, Osnabrück.