Political Economy

Cluster III applies a politicaleconomy lens to macrosystem drivers and distribution of power in consumer society, including its major institutions. It opens by elucidating  33 Political Economy of Consumerism; then examines tensions among social actors through 34 Consumer Scapegoatism, 35 Energy Overshoot, 36 Carbon Inequality, and 37 The Role of Business. Central to any economy, 38 Money shows how it shapes production and consumption and questions endlessgrowth. Questions of fairness and legitimacy follow in 39 Climate Justice addressing responsibilities amid inequality, and 40 EcoSocial Contract suggests a tool for implementing just transition based on social protection, public services, and shared obligations.

The cluster then discusses institutional and policy changes that may foster living well within planetary limits. 41 Ecological Economics as a research field emphasizes that  the economy is embedded in biophysical and social systems,  not the other way around;  and questions the growthcentric metrics. Alternative models—42 Wellbeing Economy, 43 Foundational Economy, 44 SteadyState Economy, 45 Doughnut Economics, and 46 Degrowth—redefine goals toward provisioning, sufficiency, and equity, and specify social and ecological boundaries for prosperity. Implementation pathways include 47 Sustainable Finance to redirect capital flows and risk. 48 Sharing Economy and 49 Circular Economy and Society present alternative social models that stress access over ownership and build cooperative, lowerimpact forms of provisioning. Together, these chapters map how institutions, markets, and governance can be redesigned to align prosperity with a safe and just future.

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