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

Author

Listed:
  • Dean Stroud

    (Cardiff University, UK)

  • Peter Fairbrother

    (RMIT University, Australia)

  • Claire Evans
  • Joanne Blake

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Dean Stroud & Peter Fairbrother & Claire Evans & Joanne Blake, 2014. "Skill development in the transition to a ‘green economy’: A ‘varieties of capitalism’ analysis," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 25(1), pages 10-27, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:25:y:2014:i:1:p:10-27
    DOI: 10.1177/1035304613517457
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pretty, Jules & Ward, Hugh, 2001. "Social Capital and the Environment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 209-227, February.
    2. Konzelmann, S. & Fovargue-Davies, M. & Schnyder, G., 2010. "Varieties of Liberalism: Anglo-Saxon Capitalism in Crisis?," Working Papers wp403, Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Green skills; labour; regeneration; region; transition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • P25 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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