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Research and Insights

Annual Debate Series

The world is in the midst of a profound transformation, with the economy at its center. The coming years will determine whether this change happens by disaster or by design. As part of the annual debate series initiative, we invite critical and constructive discussions about the challenges and requirements for a sustainable economy. With curiosity, openness and a sense of responsibility, we show the diversity of what is already conceivable and feasible today.

The 2023-24 series exploring the impulse of "boundaries", has been produced in cooperation with the online magazine, Makronom and E4F's German Network.

At the Borders of Democracy

In this final contribution to this edition of the series, Veith Selk writes how the discussion about the future of democracy has become clouded – even in the traditionally democracy-optimistic left-liberal camp.
Veith Selk
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The Entrepreneurial Self in Crisis

In the face of the current mutually reinforcing and intensifying multiple crises, the long-dominant neoliberal societal program and its guiding principles are reaching their limits. This is giving rise to democracy-eroding and authoritarian movements. Read this eleventh contribution to the debate series by Eva Groß, Andreas Hövermann, and Amelie Nickel where they talk about the crisis of the entrepreneurial self, exploring how unrestrained marketisation has acted as a driver for libertarian authoritarianism , posing a threat to democracy.
Eva Groß, Andreas Hövermann, & Amelie Nickel
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What Are the Limits of Government Debt?

In this tenth contribution to the debate series, a team of authors from FiscalFuture talk about the limits of government debt and how limiting government debt alone is not an end in itself for "good" budget management. This article specifically focuses on the German context and presents some new strands of economic thought as alternatives ways to rethinking how we look at government debt.
Carolina Ortega Guttack, Carl Mühlbach & Tung Doan
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How the Climate Crisis Challenges Post-Keynesianism

In this ninth contribution to the debate series, Vera Huwe and Miriam Rehm examines the extent to which the post-Keynesian paradigm is suitable for capturing ecological crises, particularly the climate crisis, and developing appropriate solutions. They argue that post-Keynesian theory, modelling, and economic policy recommendations can address the climate crisis, but there are also some contradictions that are more difficult to resolve.
Vera Huwe & Miriam Rehm
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Stalled climate protection?

The concept of "climate debts" reinforces the argument that a narrow focus on the debt brake can block meaningful investments. Climate debts are just one example of costs that have not been considered in the GDP so far. Read this eighth intervention in the series by Benjamin Held.
Benjamin Held
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Why do we need a new understanding of health and health policy?

An understanding of health and health policy that is limited to the acute control of diseases falls short of the mark. In order to grasp the causes of many disease burdens, we need to think and act more broadly. There is an urgent need for us to move towards a systemic approach that considers health issues in all governmental departments and at all levels - in other words, a "health in all policies" approach. Read the sixth contribution in the series from Karen Pittel.
Karen Pittel
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Urban Infrastructure Transformation: Navigating Planetary Boundaries and Social Justice in an Urbanising World

Transforming infrastructure away from a mere catalyst for urban and economic growth offers an opportunity to meet basic needs while enhancing wellbeing and safeguarding planetary boundaries. The sixth contribution by Astrid Krisch. Give it a read, debate, rebut and engage with this submission. The 2023-24 debate series focuses on ‘boundaries’ – be it planetary boundaries and social foundations, the limits of feasibility and political enforceability, the limits of economic theory, or outdated paradigms, the limits of the subject, space, or time.
Astrid Krisch
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Heading Towards an Existential Economics

Where does a subject begin – and where does it end? This question is central to how we think about and organize economics. This question is explored by Manuel Schulz in the fifth contribution to the series. The author says, "We are not externally and disconnected from things and other people, but we are existentially entangled with both spheres in a bodily perceptible manner – an overall context in which an economics oriented toward the human image of homo clausus conceptually must fail". Give it a read, debate, rebut and engage with this submission. The 2023-24 debate series focuses on ‘boundaries’ – be it planetary boundaries and social foundations, the limits of feasibility and political enforceability, the limits of economic theory, or outdated paradigms, the limits of the subject, space, or time.
Manuel Schulz
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The (self-imposed) Limits of Science

Modern academia has not provided a conducive environment for research that is critical and can aid societal transformation. Reform should address four major issues. Read the fourth contribution to the series, a piece by Stephan Pühringer and Carina Altreiter. Give it a read, debate, rebut and engage with this submission. The 2023-24 debate series focuses on ‘boundaries’ – be it planetary boundaries and social foundations, the limits of feasibility and political enforceability, the limits of economic theory, or outdated paradigms, the limits of the subject, space, or time.
Stephan Pühringer & Carina Altreiter
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Green Light for Green Growth?

Linear economic practices are firmly established despite alternative proposals. However, effective implementation of the circular economy is necessary to significantly reduce the footprint of human consumption. A contribution by Patricia Urban. Give it a read, debate, rebut and engage with this submission. The 2023-24 debate series focuses on ‘boundaries’ – be it planetary boundaries and social foundations, the limits of feasibility and political enforceability, the limits of economic theory, or outdated paradigms, the limits of the subject, space, or time.
Patricia Urban
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How Do We Steer Our Economy?

The 2023-24 debate series focuses on ‘boundaries’ – be it planetary boundaries and social foundations, the limits of feasibility and political enforceability, the limits of economic theory, or outdated paradigms, the limits of the subject, space, or time. Read the second intervention by Dirk Ehnts where they elaborate on the previous use of fiscal policy, monetary policy, and trade policy that has led to complex problems. To solve these, they say, we must use our economic policy instruments differently. Give it is a read, debate, rebut and engage with this submission.
Dirk Ehnts
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Responses to the Pincers Crisis

The old capitalist centers, as well as the major emerging economies, are in the midst of an epochal upheaval. Political approaches that ignore the issue of climate injustice will provoke strong resistance to socio-ecological transformation. The 2023-24 Annual Debate series is out now in English and the kick-off intervention for this season is made by Klaus Dörre.
Klaus Dörre
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Myth Busting Series

In this series, our in-house team of volunteers along with a few allies are putting together short articles that target conventional economic thinking and dissect it to reality. This involves various myths and analytical frames used in mainstream descriptions and explain how it correlates to a problematic underlying theory.

Slated to be released in 2024, we are looking for more writers (volunteers) to contribute to this as we intent to continue it. If this interests you, please reach out to us at info@econ4future.org.

Coming soon