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Microeconomic degrowth: The case of Community Supported Agriculture

Author

Listed:
  • Nhu Tuyên Lê

    (GREGH - Groupement de Recherche et d'Etudes en Gestion à HEC - HEC Paris - Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Marjolijn Bloemmen
  • Roxana Bobulescu

    (MC - Management et Comportement - EESC-GEM Grenoble Ecole de Management)

  • Claudio Vitari

    (MTS - Management Technologique et Strategique - EESC-GEM Grenoble Ecole de Management)

Abstract

In this paper, we attempt to build a new microeconomic approach that could be considered as a basis of the degrowth macroeconomic view. As degrowth is a critique of the dominant macroeconomic model of the endless search for economic growth, its microeconomic foundations can be built by searching a relevant grass-root economic initiative to theorise. Our approach is based upon the case study research of a self-harvesting Community Supported Agriculture in Belgium. The mainstream microeconomic model is based on the well-known Homo economicus assumption of individual self-interest and competitive behaviour. By contrast, our model is based on a holistic approach of producers and consumers, based upon trust, cooperation and ecologically responsible behaviours. This contribution participates to the flourishing literature on degrowth in Ecological Economics. We begin by reviewing the debate on degrowth and economic behaviour. We discuss the case study and its accounting expression that departs from the capitalist profit-seeking model. We conclude by explaining the limits and challenges of our model that implements degrowth on a small scale and in a capitalist environment. 1

Suggested Citation

  • Nhu Tuyên Lê & Marjolijn Bloemmen & Roxana Bobulescu & Claudio Vitari, 2015. "Microeconomic degrowth: The case of Community Supported Agriculture," Post-Print halshs-01923276, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01923276
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.02.013
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01923276
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:dau:papers:123456789/14276 is not listed on IDEAS
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    1. Estapé-Dubreuil, Glòria & Ashta, Arvind & Hédou, Jean-Pierre, 2016. "Micro-equity for sustainable development: Selection, monitoring and exit strategies of micro-angels," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 117-129.
    2. Julius Max Meyer & Markus Hassler, 2023. "Re-Thinking Knowledge in Community-Supported Agriculture to Achieve Transformational Change towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Dedeurwaerdere, Tom & De Schutter, Olivier & Hudon, Marek & Mathijs, Erik & Annaert, Bernd & Avermaete, Tessa & Bleeckx, Thomas & de Callataÿ, Charlotte & De Snijder, Pepijn & Fernández-Wulff, Paula &, 2017. "The Governance Features of Social Enterprise and Social Network Activities of Collective Food Buying Groups," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 123-135.
    4. Roxana Bobulescu & Nhu Tuyên Lê & Claudio Vitari & Erin Whittingham, 2018. "Socio-economic and ecological transition in community supported agriculture: from the 'transitional' to the 'ideal' CSA," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) halshs-01923235, HAL.
    5. Salladarré, Frédéric & Guillotreau, Patrice & Debucquet, Gervaise & Lazuech, Gilles, 2018. "Some Good Reasons for Buying Fish Exclusively From Community-Supported Fisheries: The Case of Yeu Island in France," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 172-180.
    6. Debucquet, G. & Guillotreau, P. & Lazuech, G. & Salladarré, F. & Troiville, J., 2020. "Sense of belonging and commitment to a community-supported fishery. The case of Yeu Island, France," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), vol. 101(4), January.
    7. Isabel Miralles & Domenico Dentoni & Stefano Pascucci, 2017. "Understanding the organization of sharing economy in agri-food systems: evidence from alternative food networks in Valencia," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 34(4), pages 833-854, December.
    8. Antoni-Komar, Irene & Rommel, Marius & Posse, Dirk & Wittkamp, Moritz & Paech, Niko, 2021. "Stable Schools in der Solidarischen Landwirtschaft. Ein transdisziplinäres Setting zur Förderung organisationaler Stabilität," 61st Annual Conference, Berlin, Germany, September 22-24, 2021 317057, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    9. Roxana Bobulescu & Nhu Tuyên Lê & Claudio Vitari & Erin Whittingham, 2018. "Socio-economic and ecological transition in community supported agriculture: from the 'transitional' to the 'ideal' CSA," Post-Print halshs-01923235, HAL.
    10. Froese, Tobias & Richter, Markus & Hofmann, Florian & Lüdeke-Freund, Florian, 2023. "Degrowth-oriented organisational value creation: A systematic literature review of case studies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    11. Chakori, Sabrina & Aziz, Ammar Abdul & Smith, Carl & Dargusch, Paul, 2021. "Untangling the underlying drivers of the use of single-use food packaging," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    12. Katarina Buhr & Karolina Isaksson & Pernilla Hagbert, 2018. "Local Interpretations of Degrowth—Actors, Arenas and Attempts to Influence Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-14, June.
    13. Marie Diekmann & Ludwig Theuvsen, 2019. "Value structures determining community supported agriculture: insights from Germany," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 36(4), pages 733-746, December.
    14. Wellner, Marie & Theuvsen, Ludwig, 2016. "Community Supported Agriculture Als Neuer Impuls Für Die Regionalvermarktung? Stand Der Forschung Und Abgrenzung Von Anderen Alternativen Lebensmittelnetzwerken," 56th Annual Conference, Bonn, Germany, September 28-30, 2016 244757, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    15. Wellner, Marie & Theuvsen, Ludwig, 2018. "Community Supported Agriculture – Determinanten Der Teilnah-Mebereitschaft Deutscher Landwirte," 58th Annual Conference, Kiel, Germany, September 12-14, 2018 276223, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    16. Joutsenvirta, Maria, 2016. "A practice approach to the institutionalization of economic degrowth," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 23-32.
    17. Lehtonen, Markku & de Carlo, Laurence, 2019. "Community energy and the virtues of mistrust and distrust: Lessons from Brighton and Hove energy cooperatives," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-1.
    18. Stefano Poponi & Gabriella Arcese & Enrico Maria Mosconi & Francesco Pacchera & Olimpia Martucci & Grazia Chiara Elmo, 2021. "Multi-Actor Governance for a Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector: Bio-Districts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-21, April.
    19. Åsa Nyblom & Karolina Isaksson & Mark Sanctuary & Aurore Fransolet & Peter Stigson, 2019. "Governance and Degrowth. Lessons from the 2008 Financial Crisis in Latvia and Iceland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-16, March.
    20. Alcock, Rowan, 2019. "The New Rural Reconstruction Movement: A Chinese degrowth style movement?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 261-269.
    21. Akbulut, Bengi & Adaman, Fikret, 2020. "The Ecological Economics of Economic Democracy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    22. Wellbrock Wanja & Daniela Ludin & Ludwig Lisa N & Muhlfeld & Kristina, 2020. "Sustainable agriculture trough regional solidary in global markets," Journal of Applied and Physical Sciences, Prof. Vakhrushev Alexander, vol. 6(1), pages 01-10.

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