Skill development in the transition to a ‘green economy’: A ‘varieties of capitalism’ analysis

Abstract

Many traditional regions are being transformed as industries restructure. Paradoxically, the global economic downturn offers opportunities to innovate on policies to regenerate areas experiencing deindustrialisation, with one emerging focus being the development of ‘green skills’ to facilitate the transition of these places to ‘green economies’. In this article, we explore similar policy objectives (i.e. regeneration activity based (in part) on green economy transitions) across three deindustrialising/deindustrialised regions – Appalachia (United States), Ruhr (Germany) and the Valleys (South Wales) – to provide an account of the ways in which different regions with similar industrial pasts diverge in their approach to moving towards greener futures. Our argument is that the emphasis in such transitions should be the creation of ‘decent’ jobs, with new economic activity and employment initiatives embracing a ‘high road’ (i.e. high skill/high pay/high quality) trajectory. Utilising a ‘varieties of capitalism’ analysis, we contend that an effective, socially inclusive and ‘high road’ transition is more likely to emerge within co-ordinated market economy contexts, for example, Germany, than within the liberal market economy contexts of, for example, the United States and United Kingdom. In identifying the critical success factors leading to ‘high road’ green economy, the implications for any such transition within the liberal market economy context of Australia are highlighted.

Technological innovation systems for biorefineries: a review of the literature

“…While several conceptual papers have outlined the importance of this analytical perspective, empirical contributions on the influence of context on TIS development are still missing, also in the field of biorefining. Of particular interest is a comparison between responses of the forestry industry in Scandinavia and North American to opportunities offered by biorefining, given differences in varieties of capitalism, which have been found to have an important influence on the character of sustainability transition processes …”

The Imperative to Address Sustainability Skills Gaps in Tourism in Wales

“…However, sustainable tourism literature often focuses upon activities related to sustainability practice, which explains the principles and practice, but not necessarily the skills and competencies required to actively implement sustainability practice. This issue can be linked to a seminal study by La Lopa and Day [44] of the tourism industry in Wales assessing readiness to change to sustainable business practices, demonstrating that despite an aspirational willingness to change, actual behavioural change amongst business was highly variable and this had to be factored into future strategic interventions. This emphasizes the need to elaborate on managerial methods of adoption and implementation of environmental and social strategies to effect sustainability behaviour change of customers and employees.…”

Transitional assistance policies for just, equitable and smooth low-carbon transitions: who, what and how?

“…Governments typically require not merely the financial resources and hierarchical authority to 'push' new technologies into such regions, but also the capacity to steer longterm, participatory, cooperative processes that empower diverse local actors to recombine their existing knowledge, skills and competences in new ways. These may include the capacity to experiment with new governance processes, to broker dialogue among the various actors (especially firms), to build or reconfigure networks, to disseminate information, and to facilitate shifts in cultural norms and worldviews (Campbell and Coenen 2017;Loorbach 2010;Rotmans, Kemp, and van Asselt 2001;Stroud et al 2014).…”

“…9). These countries possess the kind of steering and consensus-building capacities necessary to manage comprehensive and sustained regional and industrial transitions such as decarbonisation, giving them an intrinsic advantage (Finnegan 2019;Stroud et al 2014). By contrast, the institutions of "liberal market economies", like the UK, the US and Australia, characteristically foster competitive-market modes of interaction among plural interest groups, respond to short-term incentives, adopt a more laissez faire approach to innovation, training and industrial development, and tend to be more sensitive to consumer interests (Hall and Soskice 2001;Lijphart 2012).…”