Community Research Landscape   German Research in "Sustainability and Economics" (2000-2003) The goal of this internet based research is to obtain a structured overview of research and research funding in the Federal Republic of Germany within the area of economic sustainability. All projects reviewed were from the general research area of sustainable development carried out in the time period 2000-2003 and were related to economics - either in the topic researched or in the methodology used. Research funded through federal ministries, federal research institutes, federal institutions, federal states and private foundations in Germany was considered in the review. Research undertaken at independent institutions such as universities and other research organisations as well as at private organisations and institutes was also considered. The projects researched were classified in six dimensions allowing a graphical position analysis. The following elements were considered: the type of institution providing funding (federal level, federal states, foundations, universities, non-university research, other funding sources), the dimension of sustainable development in keeping with the three-column concept (ecology/environment, economics, social aspects)., research methodology (theoretical, empirical, policy orientated and integrated), the regional level (global, European, national, regional/local), the hierarchical sector classification (national economy, regional economy, industry/ company level, households), classification of environmental projects (general environment, climate change, air quality excluding CO2, water, soil, energy, transport, biosphere including agriculture and forestry, waste/primary materials, noise). Within the results, a data base containing 666 projects was created. The data base shows a specific structure which reflects the sample selection. The federal government was the main body providing research funding with a share of 69% or 469 projects. The federal states supported 47 projects or a share of 7% of all projects. European projects must be considered to be underrepresented within the study. Projects relating to Europe but funded nationally were considered, but projects which were financed by European institutions, were not included within the study. The main results of the survey are: The sustainability research carried out in Germany is mainly in the area of applied economics. Pure theoretical or empirical studies were seldom seen, especially in the social dimension of sustainable development (figure 1). Questions relating to global responsibility for sustainable development are seldom researched at the household or industry/company level - for example "fair trade". Sustainable practice for smaller economic units such as firms or households (called "micro-sustainability") has not been the subject of much research, especially in the areas of pure theoretical or empirical research (figure 2). Environmental research has a dominant role within sustainable development research. Funded research took place in the areas of energy, climate change and conservation (including agriculture and forestry) but projects in the areas of noise, soil, water, air quality (excluding CO2) were seldom funded or carried out (figure 3). _back to top	Questionnaire Landscape Institutions