October 15 to 17, 2008
7th Dialogue on Science
Growth - Constraint or Opportunity?
The pursuit of growth is one of the main motors of human activities. Only what grows and becomes bigger and those who create new spheres of influence are considered to be successful. Due to this pursuit, mankind has enjoyed growing prosperity over the past hundred years. However, voices of warning are becoming louder: by definition, the world is not unlimited, but finite, and therefore, all types of growth reach their limit, no matter how welcome this growth may be.
Experts discuss how and to what extent continuous growth is necessary and makes sense. We have to find ways and means in order to reach sustainable growth that takes into account internal human needs. Future generations must have possibilities to create real added value with less energy and with renewable resources.
This vision requires profound changes on a social and mental level that can only be compared to the dimension and scope of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. Nowadays, there are hardly any guiding principles on how these changes can be put into practice. How can we manage growth that is sustainable and can be enjoyed by future generations? How can we harmonize economic, ecological, societal and ethical concerns? How should our political and societal institutions be established to this effect? What can we learn from nature’s methods of growth?
These questions can only be explored in a joint effort and in a real dialogue between different disciplines. This is the only way we can develop a sustainable “growth” concept that we can also put into practice. This year’s conference of the Academia Engelberg shall be a step forward in this direction.
We look forward to interesting and inspiring presentations and discussions.
The programme in detail
The Programme in brief
Wednesday, October 15
Introduction to the conference
Martina Weiss, Programme director
Introduction to the topic "Growth"
Joel Mokyr, Northwestern University, Evanston
Economic Growth and Welfare
Hansjörg Siegenthaler, University of Zurich
Panel discussion
Growth: Goals & Achievements – Hazards & Disadvantages
Kuno Rüst, Monastery of Engelberg
Gerd Folkers, ETH Zurich
Paul Embrechts, ETH Zurich
Workshops
Open Evening
Growth – Constraint or Opportunity?
Contradictory Discussion in German with
Doris Aebi, Gerd Folkers, Karl Reichmuth and Georges T. Roos
Facilitator: Esther Girsberger
Thursday, October 16
Making development aid work: New methods in impact evaluation
Dina Pomeranz, Harvard University, Boston
What kind of Growth in Our Countries?
Prepared with ETHsustainability and Members from Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES) for 3 selected regions.
With Facilitators and ETHsustainability and YES team
Working Groups
Banking Growth: Compulsory or Voluntary
Werner H. Peyer, UBS, Zurich
Chinese Success -- A Miracle!?
Ling Shen, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China
Panel discussion
Wherewith can one be satisfied?
David Steindl-Rast, Network for Grateful Living
Panel discussion
Friday, October 17
Growth and Ecology: Where are the Limits?
Lucas Bretschger, ETH, Zurich
Political Institutions and Economic Growth
Gebhard Kirchgässner, University of St. Gallen
Old Sciences for a new type of Progress?
Ernst von Weizsäcker, Donald Bren School for Environmental
Science and Management, UCSB, Santa Barbara
Reflections
Doris Leuthard, Federal Government Councillor, Bern
Closing Remarks and Outlook
Klaus Hug, President of the Foundation
