Within the "Globalisation" theme SERI plans to establish a new research area entitled "Material Flows in South-North Trade Relations and Ecologically Unequal Exchange".

The analysis of the manifold impacts of globalisation processes and in particular of intensified international trade relations on countries in the south has so far often been restricted to economic criteria. The physical dimension, especially the material and energy flows induced by these processes, is often neglected. However, these physical aspects, which are not reflected in a pure economic analysis, often determine the actual occurring ecological and social impacts of globalisation processes.

Within the framework of this new research area, SERI focuses on the analysis of material flows in south-north trade relations. In co-operation with partner institutions in southern countries, SERI aims to demonstrate the impacts of the specialisation on the export of resource intensive primary commodities and the long-term consequences for future economic development potentials in the southern countries. Furthermore, material flow analyses are especially suitable to show the unequal exchange of natural resources in the world trade system.

Based on empirical analyses, SERI aims to formulate policy strategies and to propose economic and environmental policy instruments, which are appropriate to steer globalisation processes in a sustainable direction in northern as well as southern countries.

Contact person:

Stefan Giljum (Mail)

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