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Sustainable development needs sustainable production and sustainable consumption. During the last decades the encouragement of sustainable production has been the focus of research and policy makers under the implicit assumption that the observable increasing ‘green’ values of consumers would also entail a growing sustainable consumption. However, it has been found that the actual purchasing behaviour often deviates from ‘green’ attitudes. This phenomenon is called the attitude-behaviour gap. It is influenced by individual, social and situational factors. The main purchasing barriers for sustainable (organic) food are price, lack of immediate availability, sensory criteria, lack or overload of information as well as the low-involvement feature of food products in conjunction with well-established consumption routines, lack of transparency and trust towards labels and certifications.
Smallholder farmers as a backbone for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
(2018)
The phenomenon of the deviation between purchase attitudes and actual buying behaviour of responsible consumers is called the attitude-behaviour gap. It is influenced by individual, social and situational factors. The main purchasing barriers for sustainable (organic) food are price, lack of immediate availability, sensory criteria, lack or overload of information as well as the low-involvement feature of food products in conjunction with well-established consumption routines, lack of transparency and trust towards labels and certifications. The last three barriers are mainly of a psychological nature. Especially the low-involvement feature of food products due to daily purchase routines and relatively low prices tends to result in fast, automatic and subconscious decisions based on a so-called human mental system 1, derived from Daniel Kahneman’s (Nobel-Prize laureate in Behavioural Economics) model in behavioural psychology. In contrast, the human mental system 2 is especially important for the transformations of individual behaviour towards a more sustainable consumption. Decisions based on the human mental system 2 are slow, logical, rational, conscious and arduous. This so-called dual action model also influences the reliability of responses in consumer surveys. It seems that the consumer behaviour is the most unstable and unpredictable part of the entire supply chain and requires special attention. Concrete measures to influence consumer behaviour towards sustainable consumption are highly complex. Reviews of interdisciplinary research literature on behavioural psychology, behavioural economics and consumer behaviour and an empirical analysis of selected countries worldwide with a view to sustainable food are presented. The example of Denmark serves as a ‘best practice’ case study to illustrate how sustainable food consumption can be encouraged. It demonstrates that common efforts and a shared responsibility of consumers, business, interdisciplinary researchers, mass media and policy are needed. It takes pioneers of change who succeed in assembling a ‘critical mass’ willing to increase its ‘sustainable’ behaviour. Considering the strong psychological barriers of consumers and the continuing low market share of organic food, proactive policy measures would be conducive to foster the personal responsibility of the consumers and offer incentives towards a sustainable production. Also, further self-obligations of companies (Corporate Social Responsibility – CSR) as well as more transparency and simplification of reliable labels and certifications are needed to encourage the process towards a sustainable development.
Nach jetzigen Projektionen wird Afrika als einziger Kontinent das UN-Milleniumsziel einer ausreichenden Wasserversorgung nicht erreichen. Notwendig ist eine umfangreiche Analyse des Wasser-Sektors der afrikanischen Staaten, um Ursachen zu ermitteln und entsprechende Handlungsempfehlungen abzuleiten. Im Mittelpunkt der vorliegenden Untersuchung steht eine länderübergreifende und -vergleichende Analyse der Kosten, Tarifstrukturen und der Subventionspraxis der Wasserversorgungsbetriebe in Sub-Sahara Afrika. Dazu wird ein entsprechendes Bewertungs- und Benchmarkingsystem aufgestellt, das anhand ökonomischer Leistungsprinzipien und -indikatoren eine unternehmensund sektorspezifische Analyse ermöglicht und darüber hinaus die Voraussetzungen für einen internationalen Vergleich schafft.
Mess- und Bewertungsinstrument zur Feststellung des Gefährdungspotentials von Glücksspielprodukten
(2010)
Angewandte Makroökonomie
(2013)
Makroökonomische Ereignisse wie die Schuldenkrise, Rezession, Arbeitslosigkeit und Inflation haben nicht nur gesamtwirtschaftliche Konsequenzen, sondern auch vielfältige Berührungspunkte zum täglichen Leben. Diese Ereignisse sind häufig komplex und für den Einzelnen nicht immer leicht zu durchschauen. Um Studierende auf die globalen Herausforderungen von Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und Umwelt vorzubereiten ist in diesem Lehrbuch explizit auch das Thema der nachhaltigen Entwicklung integriert. Außerdem werden die großen Themen der Makroökonomie teilweise gebündelt behandelt, um die vielfältigen Zusammenhänge zwischen den einzelnen Gebieten transparenter zu gestalten. Dies hat für Studierende und Lehrende u.a. den Vorteil, dass eine modulare Verwendung möglich ist.
Contract-based nature protection schemes are a voluntary mechanism, with a limited contract duration, that aim to raise the acceptance of biodiversity conservation practices in agriculture among farmers and other land users. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the institutional settings of contract-based nature protection based on the– “Institutions of Sustainability” (IoS) framework in the German Rhine-Sieg district, and to outline the way in which policy measures should be designed to encourage farmers to participate in contract-based nature protection programmes. This was achieved by answering research questions to identify the challenges, potentials and obstacles of a contract-based nature protection scheme in different “sub-arenas” as defined in the IoS framework. Qualitative research methods were used as the methodology. The analysis shows that main constraints for sufficient implementation of contract-based nature protection schemes are the limited consideration of the impact of climate change during the contract period, the limited consideration of regional conditions as regards the measures taken on the ground and an inflexible contract duration.
Der verantwortungsvolle Konsument – Einstellungen von Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftlern
(2015)
An den wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultäten der Technischen Hochschule Köln (TH Köln) und der Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (HBRS) sind im Verlauf des Jahres 2013 Befragungen zu nachhaltigen, zertifizierten Lebensmitteln durchgeführt worden. Ziel war es, die Bedeutung von Fairtrade und Bio auf der Basis von Konsumenteneinschätzungen zu analysieren. Dazu wurden Wahrnehmung, Bekanntheitsgrad und Vertrauen, Kaufverhalten, Zahlungsbereitschaft sowie Glaubwürdigkeit in Bezug auf Fairtrade- und Bio-Produkte abgefragt. Der Kreis der Befragten umfasste die Gruppe der Studierenden, Mitarbeiter/innen und Professor(inn)en. Darüber hinaus konnten Differenzierungen nach Geschlecht, Einkommen und Alter vorgenommen werden. Die Ergebnisse sind in der Reihe „Forum NIL“ veröffentlicht worden. In der vorliegenden Studie sollte untersucht werden, ob Sozialwissenschaftler ein verantwortungsvolleres Konsumentenverhalten aufweisen als Wirtschaftswissenschaftler. Aus diesem Grunde, wurde die gleiche Befragung an der Fakultät für Sozialwissenschaften der TH Köln durchgeführt. Ein Vergleich der Befragungsergebnisse zeigte einerseits, dass Studierende, Mitarbeiter/innen und Professor(inn)en in den Sozialwissenschaften ein teilweise höheres Verantwortungsbewusstsein aufweisen. Dies gilt insbesondere in Bezug auf das bewusste Achten auf nachhaltige Produkte, die Zahlungsbereitschaft und den tatsächlichen Kauf von Fairtrade- und Bio-Produkten. Allerdings war auch bei den Befragten der Fakultät für Wirtschaftswissenschaften ein durchaus verantwortungsvolles Konsumentenverhalten erkennbar. Darüber hinaus konnte der generelle Vorwurf, dass sich eine Ökonomieausbildung negativ auf die Einstellung zu einem verantwortungsvollen Handeln auswirkt, anhand der Studienergebnisse nicht bestätigt werden. Vielmehr zeigte sich, dass nahezu keine Unterschiede zwischen den Antworten der Studienanfänger und Studierender höherer Semester an der Fakultät für Wirtschaftswissenschaften feststellbar waren.
Im Rahmen eines Forschungsaufenthaltes an der Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) wurde in Kooperation mit der Fakultät für Veterinärwissenschaften und dem Zentrum für Interdisziplinäre Wasserforschung (CETA) eine Befragung unter Studierenden und Mitarbeitenden (wissenschaftlichen und Verwaltungsmitarbeitern sowie Professoren) durchgeführt. Diese Befragung befasste sich inhaltlich mit Themen zur Einstellung argentinischer Konsumenten zu nachhaltigen und biologischen Lebensmitteln. Dabei spielte ebenfalls die Wahrnehmung dieser Lebensmittel anhand von Siegeln eine Rolle. Ferner wurden auch Fragen zum Bewusstsein für zertifizierte Produkte gestellt, das ein Präjudiz für ein spezifisches Einkaufsverhalten ist.
Nachhaltigkeitsökonomie
(2014)
Green infrastructure improves environmental health in cities, benefits human health, and provides habitat for wildlife. Increasing urbanization has demanded the expansion of urban areas and transformation of existing cities. The adoption of compact design in urban planning is a recommended strategy to minimize environmental impacts; however, it may undermine green infrastructure networks within cities as it sets a battleground for urban space. Under this scenario, multifunctionality of green spaces is highly desirable but reconciling human needs and biodiversity conservation in a limited space is still a challenge. Through a systematic review, we first compiled urban green space's characteristics that affect mental health and urban wildlife support, and then identified potential synergies and trade-offs between these dimensions. A framework based on the One Health approach is proposed, synthesizing the interlinkages between green space quality, mental health, and wildlife support; providing a new holistic perspective on the topic. Looking at the human-wildlife-environment relationships simultaneously may contribute to practical guidance on more effective green space design and management that benefit all dimensions.
The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the conservation and protection of nature are among the greatest challenges facing urban regions. There are few approaches so far that link the SDGs to natural diversity and related ecosystem services at the local level and track them in terms of increasing sustainable development at the local level. We want to close this gap by developing a set of indicators that capture ecosystem services in the sense of the SDGs and which are based on data that are freely available throughout Germany and Europe. Based on 10 SDGs and 35 SDG indicators, we are developing an ecosystem service and biodiversity-related indicator set for the evaluation of sustainable development in urban areas. We further show that it is possible to close many of the data gaps between SDGs and locally collected data mentioned in the literature and to translate the universal SDGs to the local level. Our example develops this set of indicators for the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg metropolitan area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, which comprises both rural and densely populated settlements. This set of indicators can also help improve communication and plan sustainable development by increasing transparency in local sustainability, implementing a visible sustainability monitoring system, and strengthening the collaboration between local stakeholders.
The aim of this paper is to assess the objectives of farmers’ challenges in enhancing biodiversity. The so-called “trilemma” (WBGU 2021) of land use stems from the multiple demands made on land for the benefit of mitigating climate change, securing food and maintaining biodiversity. The agricultural sector is accused of maladministration: it is blamed for causing soil contamination, animal cruelty, bee mortality and climate change. That is why farmers are seen as key actors at all levels. They are, however, also key players when it comes to overcoming the problems of the future. Their supportive role is urgently needed, but farmers find themselves caught between a “rock” and a ”hard place”. Consumers are calling for sustainable, environmentally friendly production and inexpensive food products that do not contain pesticide residues, demanding enough food for all. Farmers are restricted by the wants and needs of consumers who are influenced by interest groups and are exposed to direct and indirect influencing factors and their interdependencies. They are also tasked with balancing the scrutiny of the critical public on the one hand, and the control exercised by eager authorities on the other.
As part of the DINA (Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas) project, a trans- and interdisciplinary research study, we collected and surveyed the data of farmers who are farming within or close to the 21 selected nature protected areas included in the DINA project. Data was collected as part of a mixed method approach using a semi-structured questionnaire. The methodological and strategic approach and interdependencies of issues demonstrate the complexity of today’s problems. To investigate this, we first used the data collection method using questionnaires with closed and open questions. The conflicts and obstacles farmers face were evaluated, and the results show farmers’ willingness and the importance of appreciation shown to farmers for implementation of biodiversity measures. The paper proposes some follow-up activities (quantitative study) to verify the objectives. The results will later lead to recommendations for policymakers and farmers in all German nature protected areas.
Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas (DINA): an interdisciplinary German research project
(2021)
Insect declines and biodiversity loss have attracted much attention in recent years, but lack of comprehensive data, conflicting interests among stakeholders and insufficient policy guidance hinder progress in preserving biodiversity. The project DINA (Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas) investigates insect communities in 21 nature reserves in Germany. All selected conservation sites border arable land, with agricultural practices assumed to influence insect populations. We taught citizen scientists how to manage Malaise traps for insect collection, and subsequently used a DNA metabarcoding approach for species identification. Vegetation surveys, plant metabarcoding as well as geospatial and ecotoxicological analyses will help to unravel contributing factors for the deterioration of insect communities. As a pioneering research project in this field, DINA includes a transdisciplinary dialogue involving relevant stakeholders such as local authorities, policymakers, and farmers, which aims at a shared understanding of conservation goals and action pathways. Stakeholder engagement combined with scientific results will support the development of sound policy recommendations to improve legal frameworks, landscape planning, land use, and conservation strategies. With this transdisciplinary approach, we aim to provide the background knowledge to implement policy strategies that will halt further decline of insects in German protected areas.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD, SDG 4) and human well-being (SDG 3) are among the central subjects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this article, based on the Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being (QEWB), we investigate to what extent (a) there is a connection between EWB and practical commitment to the SDGs and whether (b) there is a deficit in EWB among young people in general. We also want to use the article to draw attention to the need for further research on the links between human well-being and commitment for sustainable development. A total of 114 students between the ages of 18 and 34, who are either engaged in (extra)curricular activities of sustainable development (28 students) or not (86 students), completed the QEWB. The students were interviewed twice: once regarding their current and their aspired EWB. Our results show that students who are actively engaged in activities for sustainable development report a higher EWB than non-active students. Furthermore, we show that students generally report deficits in EWB and wish for an improvement in their well-being. This especially applies to aspects of EWB related to self-discovery and the sense of meaning in life. Our study suggests that a practice-oriented ESD in particular can have a positive effect on the quality of life of young students and can support them in working on deficits in EWB.
Although much effort is made to prevent risks arising from food, food-borne diseases are an ever present-threat to the consumers’ health. The consumption of fresh food that is contaminated with pathogens like fungi, viruses or bacteria can cause food poisoning that leads to severe health damages or even death. The outbreak of Shiga Toxin-producing enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) in Germany and neighbouring countries in 2011 has shown this dramatically. Nearly 4.000 people were reported of being affected and more than 50 people died during the so called EHEC-crisis. As a result the consumers’ trust in the safety of fruits and vegetables decreased sharply.
Ein Prüf- und Zertifizierungsstandard zur gesellschaftlichen Verantwortung von Organisationen
(2019)
Nach einem breiten Konsens in Gesellschaft, Politik und Wissenschaft lässt sich die gegenwärtige Art zu wirtschaften so nicht fortsetzen. Ein weltweit gültiger Zertifizierungsstandard, der einen einheitlichen und politisch neutralen Ordnungsrahmen zur gesellschaftlichen Verantwortung von Organisationen gegenüber Mensch und Natur zum Ziel hat, kann helfen, die sich dynamisch verändernden und jeweils notwendigen Anforderungen zu messen, deren Einhaltung (auch komparativ) nachzuweisen und ggf. notwendige Korrekturen zu definieren. Die internationale Norm DIN EN ISO/IEC 26000:2010 bietet einen grundsätzlich geeigneten Orientierungsrahmen zu gesellschaftlich verantwortlichem Handeln für Organisationen.