Karl Birkhölzer - Brief Bio

Karl Birkhölzer studied Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg and completed his doctoral thesis in Economics of Education and Planning in 1976 at the Technical University of Berlin.

He was lecturer for Engineering and Vocational Education at several Berlin Universities. Since 1985 he is director of the Interdisciplinary Research Group Local Economy. Officially retired since beginning of 2006, he is still active as researcher within Technology Network Berlin, a social enterprise for research and development, and continues to work voluntarily for the Alternative Studies Programme at the Technical University of Berlin.

International Memberships:
• European Network for Economic Self-Help and Local Development, Chair Person since 1992
• Commonwealth Association for Local Action and Economic Development / COMMACT
• Centre International de Recherches et d’Information sur l’Économie, Publique, Sociale et Coopérative / CIRIEC

Selected Publications:

• "A Philosophical Rationale for the Promotion of Local Economic Initiatives" in Community Development Foundation (ed.). Community Economic Development. Rethoric Reality?, London 1998, pp 15 - 22, 278 – 286.
• "Grassroots Local Partnerships in the Federal Republic of Germany" in Geddes, Mike / Benington, John (eds.): Local Partnerships and Social Exclusion in the European Union, London / New York 2001, pp 92 - 110
• "The Contribution of Social Capital in the Social Economy to Local Economic Development in Western Europe / CONSCISE" (with Mel Evans a.o.), final report, London 2003, www.conscise.info
• "Der Dritte Sektor. Partner für Wirtschaft und Arbeitsmarkt" (with E. Kistler and G. Mutz), Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften Wiesbaden 2004, - "Development and Perspectives of the Social Economy or Third Sector in Germany. Summary", Berlin 2005, www.technet-berlin.de .
• "Local Economic Development and its Potential", Berlin 2005, www.technet-berlin.de .