The illusion of economic objectivity

linking local risks of credibility loss to global risks of climate change

Document identifier: oai:dalea.du.se:2416
Access full text here:10.1080/13669870801939498
Keyword: Natural Sciences, Earth and Related Environmental Sciences, Naturvetenskap, Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap, Social anthropology, Economy, Två steg fram, ett steg tillbaka - Strukturella hinder för boende att minska koldioxidutsläpp och energianvändning för uppvärmning
Publication year: 2008
Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

The SDG label(s) above have been assigned by OSDG.ai

Abstract:

This article analyses economic thinking as a conceptual construct and discusses the link it provides between local risks of losing credibility and global risks of resource depletion and climate change. Due to the high-ranking value given to economic thinking in many Swedish contexts, economic arguments are perfect ways to win an argument or negotiation, to prevent risks of loosing credibility, or to discredit others. As illlustrated in this article, legitimacy-creating acts of communication tend to precede or follow upon a decision to install a solar heating system. An immediate and massive use of solar energy for heating purposes would mitigate the risks of global warming and depletion of energy resources. Unfortunately however, the conspicuous use of economic arguments accompanying solar heating installations tend to be interpreted by policy-makers as a preference for economic motives rather than a sign of questioned consumption. The illusion that economy is an objective entity rising above all other social issues seems to be confirmed, and political measures based on economic thinking can continue to block adequate steps towards the mitigation of climate changing emissions. The cultural representation of economic sovereignty is continuously reproduced through communication. It is a circle, a vicious circle if you like.

Authors

Annette Henning

Högskolan Dalarna; Energi och miljöteknik
Other publications >>

Record metadata

Click to view metadata

	
    header: 
        identifier: oai:dalea.du.se:2416
        datestamp: 2021-04-15T13:01:25Z
        setSpec: SwePub-du
    metadata: 
        mods: 
            @attributes: 
                version: 3.7
            recordInfo: 
                recordContentSource: du
                recordCreationDate: 2006-12-15
            identifier: 
                http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-2416
                10.1080/13669870801939498
            titleInfo: 
                @attributes: 
                    lang: eng
                title: The illusion of economic objectivity
                subTitle: linking local risks of credibility loss to global risks of climate change
            abstract: 
This article analyses economic thinking as a conceptual construct and discusses the link it provides between local risks of losing credibility and global risks of resource depletion and climate change. Due to the high-ranking value given to economic thinking in many Swedish contexts economic arguments are perfect ways to win an argument or negotiation to prevent risks of loosing credibility or to discredit others. As illlustrated in this article legitimacy-creating acts of communication tend to precede or follow upon a decision to install a solar heating system. An immediate and massive use of solar energy for heating purposes would mitigate the risks of global warming and depletion of energy resources. Unfortunately however the conspicuous use of economic arguments accompanying solar heating installations tend to be interpreted by policy-makers as a preference for economic motives rather than a sign of questioned consumption. The illusion that economy is an objective entity rising above all other social issues seems to be confirmed and political measures based on economic thinking can continue to block adequate steps towards the mitigation of climate changing emissions. The cultural representation of economic sovereignty is continuously reproduced through communication. It is a circle a vicious circle if you like.

            subject: 
                    @attributes: 
                        lang: eng
                        authority: uka.se
                    topic: 
                        Natural Sciences
                        Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
                    @attributes: 
                        lang: swe
                        authority: uka.se
                    topic: 
                        Naturvetenskap
                        Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap
                    @attributes: 
                        lang: eng
                    topic: social anthropology
                    @attributes: 
                        lang: eng
                    topic: economy
                    @attributes: 
                        lang: swe
                        authority: du
                    topic: Två steg fram ett steg tillbaka - Strukturella hinder för boende att minska koldioxidutsläpp och energianvändning för uppvärmning
                    genre: Research subject
            language: 
                languageTerm: eng
            genre: 
                publication/journal-article
                ref
            note: 
                Published
                1
            name: 
                @attributes: 
                    type: personal
                    authority: du
                namePart: 
                    Henning
                    Annette
                role: 
                    roleTerm: aut
                affiliation: 
                    Högskolan Dalarna
                    Energi och miljöteknik
                nameIdentifier: ahe
            originInfo: 
                dateIssued: 2008
            relatedItem: 
                @attributes: 
                    type: host
                titleInfo: 
                    title: Journal of Risk Research
                identifier: 
                    1366-9877
                    1466-4461
                part: 
                    detail: 
                            @attributes: 
                                type: volume
                            number: 11
                            @attributes: 
                                type: issue
                            number: 1-2
                    extent: 
                        start: 223
                        end: 235
            physicalDescription: 
                form: print
            typeOfResource: text