Navigating the Circular Economy through performance measurement: An exploration of Policy instrument design, Business model innovation, and Epistemic underpinnings

Thesis Defence
Navigating the Circular Economy through performance measurement: An exploration of Policy instrument design, Business model innovation, and Epistemic underpinnings

Marcus BERGMANN,
PhD candidate in the PhD programme ESCP, publicly defended his PhD thesis in Management Sciences.

December 13, 2024
14:00-17:00 (CET)
online via Zoom or at Campus Champerret - Amphi 471

Attend this defence
(zoom link)

Abstract

This thesis explores the role of performance measurement embedded in policy instruments for shaping a more sustainable market. It specifically examines instruments that promote a stronger version of the Circular Economy, such as product lifetime extension through repair.

Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this thesis integrates perspectives from the circular economy, public policy, and accounting. It employs an inductive qualitative approach, centred on a case study of the French Repairability Index (FRI), combining participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentary analysis.

The first of three articles sheds light on the politics of measuring product repairability, revealing key stages and mechanisms involved in the social construction of the FRI. The second article reveals the underlying mechanisms that allow the FRI to mediate between multiple regulatory targets and users. The third article shows the impact of the FRI on industry practices and business models.

This thesis provides original problematizations of the FRI and bridges isolated literatures to enhance our understanding of similar instruments. It contributes to established theories by showing how such instruments are designed to induce a specific type of “reactivity” (Espeland & Sauder, 2007a), and it refines emerging theoretical frameworks like strong and weak circularity. Practically, the thesis demonstrates the FRI's potential for steering companies towards repairability, while highlighting the limitations of such informative policy instruments.

It raises critical questions about market-based solutions and their capacity to drive transformative and systematic change, suggesting the need for a broader policy mix.

Keywords: Circular economy; Repair; French repairability index; Regulatory market devices; Performance measurement; Ratings; Circular business models; Strong circularity; Informative policy instruments

Jury