Monthly Archives: May 2013

Mirjam Büdenbender: The Real Estate/Financial Complex in Russia and Ukraine

My PhD research on the real estate/financial complex in Russia and Ukraine is driven by the recognition that the financial and the real estate sector are linked to each other in intricate ways, often mediated by government legislation, regulation and elite interests. This has been best illustrated by the subprime crisis and resulting global credit crunch. However, to this date the concrete connections between real estate (both residential and non-residential), finance and states still remain under-researched and under- theorized. What is more, the distinct modalities of this relationship and the resulting specificities of the real estate/financial complex across space have been paid relatively little attention to. This holds especially true for the financially ‘underdeveloped’ Continue reading

Joachim Spangenberg: Production Pattern – Workshop Suggestions

In the process of narrowing down the issue of debate, the sub-item „production and consumption patterns” has been dropped. This is a pity from my point of view for two reasons:

(i)                  Production patterns should remind us of the fact that besides the financilisation, there is a physical side of the economy, and its development is unsustainable. While many – also on the left – agree that economic growth stimulation is the key means to overcome the crisis, to “grow out of the crisis”, be it for job creation, tax revenue generation or (on the other side of the bench) for profit maximisation, the objective is shared across the traditional left-right divide (except for German ideologists). Continue reading

Nick Deardon: Some Workshop Suggestions

Regarding the complex “debt – austerity policy – financialisation – capitalist oligarchies – production and consumption patterns – hegemony – socio-ecological reconstruction/transformation – and the especially dramatic dimensions of the Greek case” and regarding the more concrete above formulated issues – how would you characterize your main interest and your research method? Continue reading

Marica Frangakis: Workshop Suggestions

 

  • Regarding the complex “debt – austerity policy – financialisation – capitalist oligarchies – production and consumption patterns – hegemony – socio-ecological reconstruction/transformation – and the especially dramatic dimensions of the Greek case” and regarding the more concrete above formulated issues – how would you characterize your main interest and your research method?  I do indeed consider the high level of financialisation as an endemic factor of the current crisis.  Finance has been instrumental in the outbreak of the crisis, as well as in its continuation, through its size in the economy and its influence on the political system (revolving doors between financiers and politicians).  Continue reading