GIGA RP 3
Research Programme 3:
Socio-Economic Challenges in the Context of Globalisation
Research Programme (RP) 3 focuses on selected socio-economic challenges in the context of globalization. Globalization has been accompanied by unprecedentedly swift periods of economic and societal transformation in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. We investigate these socio-economic transformations from different perspectives and with different focuses. One focus is on the strategies by individuals, households, firms or specific social groups in order to adapt to challenges related to globalization. From this micro perspective we also examine how these actors make use of new opportunities and the extent to which they contribute to social and global change. This line of research is complemented by the analysis of patterns of socio-economic transformation at the macro-level, focusing on the interdependence of long-term economic growth and socio-economic structural change. Finally, starting from the observation that economic growth puts pressure on the world's resources and ecosystems, another main theme of the RP is the sustainability of economic transformations. We hence analyse possible trade-offs and win-win situations between sustainable development on the one hand and economic and human development on the other.
News & Highlights
- GIGA Seminar in Socio-Economics: "A Recipe for Success? Randomized Free Distribution of Improved Cooking Stoves in Senegal". Dr. Jörg Peters (Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung) will give a talk about his research on, 25st April 2013 at 1.30-2.30 p.m, GIGA, Neuer Jungfernstieg 21, 20354 Hamburg
- Kerstin Nolte: Large-Scale Agricultural Investments under Poor Land Governance Systems: Actors and Institutions in the Case of Zambia, GIGA Working Paper No 221, April 2013, Hamburg (Abstract & full article)
- International Dialogue Forum "Low Carbon Development and Poverty Reduction" at the Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi, February 21-22, 2013
- RP3 wins one of three projects funded by the AGRODEP initiative on "Smallholders and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Land: A case study of Zambia".
- With the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development RP3 remains a strong partner in the Land Matrix project.
Research Teams:
RP 3 consists of two interdisciplinary research teams (RTs) and the Claussen-Simon Professorship in Economics – held by Prof. Dr. Erich Gundlach.
1. RT 1: Local Actors of Globalisation: Agency and Responsiveness
RT 1 focuses on "Local Actors of Globalisation: Agency and Responsiveness". The team analyses the strategies adopted by individuals, households, firms or specific social groups in order to adapt to challenges related to globalization. It also examines how these actors make use of new opportunities and the extent to which they contribute to social and global change.
- How do actors, i.e. individuals, households, firms, social groups and networks, react to local and global change? Which strategies do they choose?
- In what ways do these actors affect local and global change?
- How do actors make use of new opportunities related to globalization?
2. RT 2: The Socio-Economics of Sustainable Development
RT 2 addresses "The Socio-Economics of Sustainable Development ". The team focuses on the two key interrelated issues climate change and land-use change and studies the drivers and consequences of these phenomena. It analyses possible trade-offs and win-win situations between sustainable development, on the one hand, and economic and human development, on the other.
- How can economic and social development be reconciled with environmental sustainability?
- How can possible trade-offs be managed, and can we identify win-win situations that foster both human and "green" development?
3. Claussen-Simon Professorship in Economics: Growth and Socio-Economic Structural Change
The Claussen-Simon Professorship in Economics studies the patterns of socio-economic transformations at the macro-level, focusing on the interdependence of long-term economic growth and socio-economic structural change.
- What are the drivers behind the various facets of socio-economic structural change?
- How are the interdependencies between economic growth and socio-economic structural change?
- Which are the causal directions of these relationships?
Selected Publications:
- Schüller Margot, and Yun Schüler-Zhou (2013): Empirical Study of Chinese Subsidiaries' Decision-Making Autonomy in Germany), in: Asian Business and Management. (i.E.).
- Giese, Karsten, and Alena Thiel (2012): The Vulnerable Other – Distorted Equity in Chinese-Ghanaian Employment Relations, in: Ethnic and Racial Studies, DOI: 10.1080/01419870.2012.681676. (Abstract & full article)
- Giesbert, Lena, and Kati Schindler (2012): Assets, Shocks, and Poverty Traps in Rural Mozambique, in: World Development, 40, 8, 1594-1609. (Abstract)
- Lay, Jann, M. Grimm and P. Knorringa (2012): Constrained Gazelles: High Potentials in West Africa's Informal Economy, in: World Development, 40, 1352-1368.
- Gundlach, Erich, and Martin Paldam (2012): The Democratic Transition. Short run and long run causality between income and the Gastil index, in: European Journal of Development Research, 1, 24, 144-168.
- Giesbert, Lena, Susan Steiner and Mirko Bendig (2011), Participation in Micro Life Insurance and the Use of other Financial Services, in: Journal of Risk and Insurance, 78, 1, 7-35.
- Lay, Jann, Michael Grimm and Jens Krueger (2011), Barriers to Entry and Returns to Capital in Informal Activities: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa, in: Review of Income and Wealth, 57, 27-53.
- Neff, Daniel and Barrientos, Armando (2011), Attitudes to Chronic Poverty in the "Global Village", Social Indicators Research, 100, 1, 101, also GIGA Working Paper No 134, May 2010, Hamburg. (Abstract & full article)
- Prediger, Sebastian, Björn Vollan and Markus Frölich (2011): The impact of culture and ecology on cooperation in a common-pool resource experiment, in: Ecological Economics, 70, 9, 1599-1608.
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