Local Living Economies

In cooperation with the innovation group sustainable small and medium-sized businesses (INaMi) the IETSR has founded the working group “Local Living Economies / Buy Local” in the summer of 2012. This working group examines business networks which strive to strengthen the economical self-reliance, the entrepreneurial innovation capacities, and the cultural identity of their region. Thereby they operate in a best possible, socially and ecologically responsible way. Meanwhile these business initiatives have become quite prevalent especially in North America and Great Britain where they approach consumers, politicians, entrepreneurs and businessmen / businesswomen, as well as other societal actors with the familiar Think Global, Act Local - thought. In collaboration with regional businesses and the German nationwide operating BUY LOCAL initiative the working group focuses research on those networks’ structural properties, carriers and barriers, and last but not least on their possible impacts on sustainable development.

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