In-person event at the Free University of Bozen on 23–24 November 2023

Research in almost every policy-relevant field is now geared towards achieving sustainability. Theoretical models, political programmes, legislation and ethical guidelines all define sustainability as the ultimate objective – at least in principle. In practice, however, these objectives are often formulated in vague or arbitrary terms and may, intentionally or unintentionally, lead to outcomes that formally or rhetorically comply with the stated targets while raising doubts as to whether genuine sustainability has actually been achieved.

The concept of "moral hazard", originally developed in the fields of insurance and credit economics and widely used in microeconomics, is applied here to describe such disconnects between declared objectives and often unintended or undesirable real-world outcomes. The conference explores these moral hazards in the context of sustainability research and policy from economic, political, legal and ethical perspectives.

Speakers: Christian Arnsperger, Paolo Graziano, Silvia Ivani, Malte Kramme, Eugene Nulman, William Rees, Oliver Schlaudt and Sören Schuster.

The conference is organised by the Competence Centre for Economic, Ecological and Social Sustainability at the Free University of Bozen in cooperation with the Euregio Platform for Human Dignity and Human Rights (EUPHUR).

The event is made possible through the support of "Raiffeisenkassen Bozen".

Further information is available here