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Powered by the Polis: How post materialistic values in consumers enable usage of renewable energy sources in a consumption economy.

Eerde, T.L. van (2016) Powered by the Polis: How post materialistic values in consumers enable usage of renewable energy sources in a consumption economy.

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Abstract:Our present societal organization needs large amounts of power. Current methods for generating this power are both finite in their quantity as well as polluting. This warrants a shift towards renewable energy sources, however this has proven problematic in practice. Research into prevailing values in western societies have shown that such societies’ values are slowly shifting into a specific direction, which in general could be described as a shift from materialistic values towards post materialistic values. Following this shift, a view is presented in which consumers with post materialistic values possess different characteristics compared to the traditional consumer, which is presumed to be only concerned about price and quantity. These ‘new’ post materialistic values could be used by producers of renewable energy technologies in order to sell their product to this new consumer. This as an alternative to competing in a traditional manner; on price and quality and quantity of their products. In this way consumers are able to buy products which are compatible with their values, and at the same time producers of sustainable products do not have to directly compete with competition on price and quality and quantity alone.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:08 philosophy, 43 environmental science, 85 business administration, organizational science
Programme:Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society MSc (60024)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/70955
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