This book identifies, analyzes and discusses the current trends of digitalized, decentralized, and networked physical value creation by focusing on the particular example of 3D printing. In addition to evaluating 3D printing's disruptive potentials against a broader economic background, it also addresses the technology's potential impacts on sustainability and emerging modes of bottom-up and community-based innovation. Emphasizing these topics from economic, technical, social and environmental perspectives, the book offers a multifaceted overview that scrutinizes the scenario of a fundamental transition: from a centralized to a far more decentralized system of value creation.

This book identifies, analyzes and discusses the current trends of digitalized, decentralized, and networked physical value creation by focusing on the particular example of 3D printing. In addition to evaluating 3D printing's disruptive potentials against a broader economic background, it also addresses the technology's potential impacts on sustainability and emerging modes of bottom-up and community-based innovation. Emphasizing these topics from economic, technical, social and environmental perspectives, the book offers a multifaceted overview that scrutinizes the scenario of a fundamental transition: from a centralized to a far more decentralized system of value creation.

Taking as its subject matter one aspect of the hugely important subject of nanotechnology, this book demonstrates that the application of nanotechnology in industry can result in increased eco-efficiency and other environmental gains. It also shows what needs to be done from the point of view of scientists, engineers and science policy makers to guide future development in nanotechnology towards sustainability.

Structural change in basic industries is usually interpreted as an autonomous economic process. Some authors claim that there is a tendency to use the "end of the era of materials," thus resulting in a decline of the basic industries. Such a process would obviously benefit the environment. Classic economic theories, which deal with structural change in a rather holistic way, correspond to this trend, predicting either a shift towards manufacturing and services or a relocation of old basic industries to developing countries. On the basis of this dematerialization hypothesis, comparative case studies analyze in detail the driving forces behind industrial restructuring with regard to different industries and countries in Europe, where such a decline has been observed in recent years.

Sustainability cannot be achieved without good governance. The Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 stated that governance and sustainable development are intimately tied together and the future role and architecture of institutions, from local to international levels, will be crucial determinants to whether future policies and programmes for sustainable development will succeed. But these are changing times. With growing tensions over both globalization and regionalization, traditional systems of regulation are being subjected to growing pressure for reform. While states will continue to play a significant, if changed, role in the future, the importance of players from business and civil society is increasing. Sustainable development requires this change. Such an intra- and intergenerational concept cannot be achieved with a top-down approach, but rather needs the participation of all. In fact, the governance of sustainable development requires the exploration of new forms of both social co-operation and confrontation. By doing so, the different levels (global and local), players (state, company and civil society), control structures (hierarchy, market and public-private) and fields of action need to be taken into consideration.Governance and Sustainability examines the possibilities of integrating the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development within the framework of governance processes and how that might steer societies towards sustainability. It takes a close look at the key actors, their agendas and methods, forms of organization, problems and limits, as well as real-life examples for governance in different areas of society at the regional, national and international level. It is especially interested in exploring the nature of changes in the context of governance; the role of actors in such processes; and analysing how different forms of societal learning can improve governance processes. It concludes that this is a continuous process, characterized by conflicts and learning processes necessary to heighten both awareness of the complexity of the social and environmental problems faced and the prospects of implementing successful solutions. Based on a major conference hosted to assess the issue of governance post-Johannesburg, the book includes innovative insights from some of the leading thinkers in both sustainable development and governance from academia, business, multilateral organizations and NGOs. It provides a unique perspective on two of the key societal problems facing the world today.

Structural change in basic industries is usually interpreted as an autonomous economic process. Some authors claim that there is a tendency to use the "end of the era of materials", thus resulting in a decline of the basic industries. Such a process would obviously benefit the environment. Classic economic theories, which deal with structural change in a rather holistic way, correspond to this trend, predicting either a shift towards manufacturing and services or a relocation of old basic industries to developing countries. On the basis of this dematerialization hypothesis, comparative case studies analyze in detail the driving forces behind industrial restructuring with regard to different industries and countries in Europe, where such a decline has been observed in recent years.

Why does one country take the lead over others in the development and introduction of environmental innovations? This book analyzes lead markets for innovations such as fuel cells and photovoltaics, and offers insight into why this is. The authors use case studies to illustrate the policy framework that favors environmental innovation, and offer recommendations for research and development, environmental and industrial policies.

Die Diskussion uber die Globalisierung der Markte bzw. die Standortdebatte ist angstbesetzt und haufig sachlich irrefuhrend. Die Autoren relativieren existierende Befurchtungen und zeigen, dass die Gestaltungsspielraume durch die verstarkte Arbeitsteilung zwischen ahnlich strukturierten Gesellschaften zunehmen. Sie geben Hinweise daruber, wo die Handlungsspielraume liegen und vermitteln die Uberzeugung, dass die arbeitsteilige Vernetzung auch eine gute Grundlage fur eine nachhaltig zukunftsvertragliche Entwicklung sein kann."

1 Einleitung.- 2 Globalisierung: Veranderte Bedeutungen von Hier und Dort.- 2.1 Globalisiemngsfieber und Globalisierungskonzepte.- 2.2 Internationalisierung und Globale Linkages.- 3 Bestimmung der Anforderungen an die Politik der Nachhaltigkeit: Was ist Nachhaltigkeit?.- 3.1 Eine kurze Bilanz der bisherigen Umweltpolitik.- 3.2 Glockenfoermiger Zusammenhang zwischen Umweltbelastung und Wirtschaftswachstum?.- 3.3 Neue Umweltprobleme und der Paradigmen Wechselder Umweltpolitik.- 3.4 Von der Umweltoekonomie zur oekologischen OEkonomie.- 3.5 Facetten des Nachhaltigkeitsbegriffs.- 3.6 Probleme der Operationalisierbarkeit.- 3.7 Das Drei-Saulen-Modell.- 3.8 Zielorientierung und Fazit.- 3.9 Globale Umweltprobleme auf der Agenda.- 4 Institutioneller Wandel, wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und Nachhaltigkeit.- 4.1 Ein Blick in die Geschichte.- 4.2 OEkologische Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte der Globalisierung.- 4.3 Anforderungen an den institutionellen Wandel.- 5 Globalisierung: Eine empirische Bestandsaufnahme.- 5.1 Vorgehensweise.- 5.2 Aussenhandel und Direktinvestitionen.- 5.3 Globalisierung und nationale Arbeitsmarkte.- 5.4 Globalisierung der Finanzmarkte.- 5.5 Eine erste Zwischenbilanz.- 5.6 Die Rolle von Institutionen und Normen unter Bedingungen einer globalen OEkonomie.- 6 Exkurs: Globalisierung, Entkoppeiung von realer und monetarer Akkumulation und monetarer Weltmarkt.- 6.1 Das Problem.- 6.2 Global neoclassicism und seine Begrundungen.- 6.3 Risse in den Transmissionsmechanismen.- 6.4 Eine andere Interpretation.- 7 Wettbewerbsfahigkeit und Standortdebatte.- 7.1 Begriffe der internationalen Wettbewerbsfahigkeit.- 7.2 Der Wettbewerb der Nationen.- 7.3 Die Rolle des Standortes und theoretische Ansatze zur Erklarung internationaler Wettbewerbsfahigkeit.- 7.4 Krugmans Analyse der Herausbildung wettbewerbsfahiger Zentren.- 7.5 Porters Analyse nationaler Wettbewerbsvorteile.- 7.6 Das Konzept der systemischen Wettbewerbsfahigkeit.- 7.7 Die Debatte um den Standort Deutschland.- 7.8 Wirkungen der Umweltpolitik auf Standort und Wettbewerbsfahigkeit.- 8 Bestimmungsfaktoren fur den Unternehmenserfolg.- 8.1 Kritische Erfolgsfaktoren.- 8.2 Die Hidden Champions.- 8.3 Die Umsetzung neuer Managementkonzepte.- 8.4 Umweltschutz und Unternehmenserfolg.- 9 Globalisierungsmoeglichkeiten und ihre Grenzen.- 9.1 Globalisierungsstrategien der Unternehmen.- 9.2 Produkte, Produktionsprozesse und Globalisierung.- 9.3 Die Standortwahl fur die Ansiedlung von Forschung und Entwicklung (FuE).- 10 Handel und Umwelt.- 10.1 Aussenhandelstheorie.- 10.2 Auswirkungen der Handelsliberalisierung auf die Umwelt.- 10.3 Argumente fur die Begrenzung des Aussenhandels.- 10.4 Umweltdumping und unterschiedliche nationale Produkt- und Produktionsstandards.- 10.5 Beschrankungen der unilateralen Handelspolitik durch regionale und internationale Abkommen.- 10.6 Das Allgemeine Zoll- und Handelsabkommen.- 10.7 Internationaler Umweltschutz durch eine globale Umweltschutzbehoerde als Alternative zur OEkologisierung des GATT-Rahmens.- 10.8 Die Berucksichtigung des Umweltschutzes im Nordamerikanischen Freihandelsabkommen.- 11 Fallstudie 1: Globalisierung der Automobilindustrie.- 11.1 Die oekonomische und kulturelle Bedeutung des Automobils.- 11.2 Die Globalisierung der Automobilindustrie.- 11.3 Der Fall der deutschen Automobilindustrie.- 11.4 Bewertungen.- 12 Fallstudie 2: Textilindustrie.- 12.1 Charakteristika.- 12.2 Bekleidungsindustrie.- 12.3 Nachfrageentwicklung.- 12.4 Die Bedeutung des Handels.- 12.5 Unternehmerische Strategien in der Textil-und Bekleidungsindustrie.- 12.6 Bekleidungsindustrie in Italien.- 12.7 Probleme und Ansatze zu ihrer UEberwindung.- 13 Die Ebenen der Handlungsmoeglichkeiten.- 13.1 Die weltwirtschaftlich-regionale Dimension der Handlungsmoeglichkeiten.- 13.2 Die nationale-makrooekonomische und die makropolitische Dimension.- 13.3 Die nationale-mikrooekonomische Dimension der Handlungsmoeglichkeiten.- 14 Nationale Handlungsmoegliehkeiten einer Politik