Integrating the circular economy into existing economic models

The circular economy concept aims to use resources sustainably as a way to reduce harm to the environment. Although the notion of the circular economy is well established and frequently invoked in political discourse, its true economic significance and precise definition remain unclear above and beyond the familiar, often superficial statements. Paul Schweinzer (University of Klagenfurt) and Zaifu Yang (University of York) intend to change this: In the FWF-funded project “Circular Competitive Equilibrium”, they are seeking ways to combine the idea of a circular economy with the well-developed economic concepts of decentralized competition and private property.

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Greater efficiency along the ‘middle mile’ in logistics as a result of collaboration between companies

When goods are delivered from A to B, a significant part of the journey involves transporting shipments between warehouses, hub facilities and distribution centres. A research team working on the COMMIT project, which is funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, is developing technologies to prevent vehicles from travelling this ‘middle mile’ empty or with low load utilisation. The project is co-located at the University of Vienna and the University of Klagenfurt.

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No energy transition without metallic minerals: Research project investigates trade in critical raw materials in times of political unrest

The war between Russia and Ukraine, for example, does not only affect the trade in gas and oil, but also the market for metallic minerals, which Europe urgently needs to boost the energy transition. A research project from the field of economics is investigating how trade in mineral commodities is linked to geopolitical risks.

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Self-fulfilling prophecies: What causes a bank to fail?

We talk about self-fulfilling prophecies when something we have predicted comes true as a result of our conscious and unconscious actions. Jack Bryson, university assistant in the Ada Lovelace Programme, is using modelling and simulations to find out which social science phenomena can cause banks to fail. 

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