In light of escalating multiple crises—specifically the interplay of social, economic, political, and environmental crises—the question is no longer whether a socio-ecological transformation will occur, but how. The transgression of planetary boundaries, such as the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, or ocean pollution, necessitates far-reaching changes in production, consumption, and lifestyles. At the same time, however, there are enormous socio-economic inequalities and deficiencies at both national and international levels in areas such as health, education, political participation, and equality. The SET Lab, therefore, explores the prerequisites and various socio-economic scenarios for a sustainable socio-ecological transformation.

In particular, the SET Lab focuses on the role of the currently dominant economic thinking in this process. It investigates to what extent mainstream economic thinking, which largely analyzes economic actions in isolation from social and ecological implications, represents an additional and central obstacle to the necessary profound transformation. It also examines how alternative socio-economic approaches, which emphasize the holistic integration of the economy into society and ecology, can make a positive contribution to socio-ecological transformation. The impact of economic thinking is analyzed in the areas of knowledge production and knowledge transfer, as well as in political reform debates and public discourse. In doing so, we are committed to the social responsibility of science and foster diverse collaborations with partners from academia and civil society.

Current Research Projects at the SET Lab