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Tools for Analysing the Metabolism of Societies

Code: 45792
Credits: 5
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Interdisciplinary Studies in Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability OP 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Laura Perez Sanchez
Email :
laura.perez.sanchez@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Arnim Scheidel
Giacomo D'Alisa

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

No prior knowledge is necessary.

Objectives

The main objective of this course is to introduce you to the main methodologies for analyzing the metabolism of societies from the perspective of ecological economics, providing you with the necessary tools to apply them in a practical and rigorous way to real case studies that will allow you to rigorously analyze the biophysical dimension of socioeconomic systems.

Upon completion of the course, you will have achieved the following specific objectives:

  • Understand the theoretical foundations of social metabolism and the main biophysical indicators of sustainability.
  • Integrate the different methodologies within the framework of the Integrated Multiscale Analysis of the Metabolism of Societies (MuSIASEM).
  • Apply Land and Time Budget Analysis as a tool to evaluate the territorial and labor requirements of productive systems.
  • Apply Material and Energy Flow Analysis to quantify the biophysical exchanges of socioeconomic systems.
  • Master the foundations of Input-Output Analysis and its applications in the context of social metabolism.
  • Know and use the main data sources available for the calculation of metabolic indicators.
  • Work collaboratively in groups to analyze specific case studies, and communicate and defend the results obtained in a clear and well-founded manner

Learning outcomes

  • (CA48) Design integrated methodologies to analyse social metabolism and address sustainability challenges.
  • (CA49) Critically evaluate the ethical and social implications of societies' metabolism models.
  • (KA51) Describe the concept of social metabolism and the biophysical indicators of sustainability.
  • (KA52) Explain the methodologies of Material Flow Analysis (MFA), Input-Output Analysis (IOA), and Land and Time Budget Analysis.
  • (KA53) Describe the approach of the Integrated Multiscale Analysis of social metabolism and the integration of methodologies through system dynamics.
  • (SA47) Calculate biophysical indicators to analyse the social metabolism in specific case studies, such as energy transition.
  • (SA48) Be able to run the specialised programmes of Material Flow Analysis, Input-Output Analysis and Land and Time Budget Analysis to evaluate sustainability.
  • (SA49) Select the appropriate methodologies for the analysis of social metabolism at different spatial and time scales.

Contents

The topics developed in the course are:

  • Topic 1: Introduction to the metabolism of societies.
  • Definition, history and schools of social metabolism
  • Exosomatic evolution of societies.
  • Complexity and hierarchies.
  • Biophysical indicators of sustainability.
  • Ecological transition and metabolism
  • Topic 2: Integrated Multiscale Analysis of the Metabolism of Societies (MuSIASEM).
  • Complex and emergent systems
  • Fund-flow scheme
  • Grammars of energy, water, and land use.
  • End-use matrix
  • Data sources, calculation of indicators.
  • Examples of applications.
  • Topic 3: Land and Time Budget Analysis.
  • Conceptual framework
  • Data sources, calculation of indicators.
  • Examples of applications.
  • Topic 4: Material and Energy Flow Analysis.
  • Types of material and energy balances
  • Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis
  • Data sources, calculation of indicators.
  • Examples of applications.
  • Topic 3: Fundamentals of footprinting. Input-Output Analysis.
  • Basic algebra
  • Principles of national accounts
  • Data sources, calculation of indicators.
  • Examples of applications.
  • Tema 6: Wrap-up and critical comparison between methods


The concepts and tools explained during the course will be applied in practical use cases throughout the course, in an integrated manner across the various topics.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Type: Autonomous
1. Reading theoretical literature 15 0.6 KA51, KA52, KA53
2. Practical exercises developed by students independently 33 1.32 CA48, SA47, SA48, SA49
3. Development of a final report on the practical work 18 0.72 CA48, CA49
4. Preparation of oral presentation by the student 11 0.44 CA49, SA49
Type: Guided
1. Oral presentations by teachers 15 0.6 KA51, KA52, KA53
2. Practical exercises guided by teachers 14 0.56 SA47, SA48
Type: Supervised
1. Guided practical exercises 16 0.64 CA48, CA49, SA48

The course content will be developed based on the following activities:

  • Oral presentations by teachers
  • Reading of book chapters or articles (individual student activity, complementary to classroom work)
  • Practical classes guided by the teacher
  • Independent work by students based on the teacher's proposals
  • Oral presentation by students
Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
1. In-class continuous assessment quizzes 10% 1 0.04 KA51, KA52, KA53
2. Individual practical exercises developed at class and home 40% 0 0 CA48, SA47, SA48, SA49
3.1. Oral presentation of the course project 30% 2 0.08 CA48, KA52, KA53, SA47
3.2. Final report of the course project 20% 0 0 CA49, KA51, KA53, SA47

Continuous assessment

The course evaluation will be obtained from continuous assessment tests in class on the contents given in the theory sessions (10%), the resolution of practical course exercises done in class and at home (40% of the final grade), and a group project consisting of an oral presentation (30%) and a final report on the practical work (20%).

If the final grade does not reach 5, the student has another opportunity to pass the course through the retake exam that will be held on the date set by the degree coordination. In the case of requiring a retake exam, the final grade for the subject will not be higher than 6. In this test, the grade of the final report and the continuous assessment tests in class can be recovered. The oral presentation and practical course exercises are not recoverable. Activities in which irregularities have been detected (plagiarism, copying, improper use of AI, etc.) cannot be recovered.

Single assessment

This course does not provide for a single assessment.

Copying and plagiarism

In the event that the student carries out any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an assessment act, this assessment act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event that several irregularities occur in the assessment acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0. Those assessment acts in which there have been irregularities are not recoverable.

Use of AI

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted in any of its phases. Any work that includes fragments generated by AI will be considered a breach of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total grade penalty for the activity, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.

Bibliography

Topic 1: Introduction to the metabolism of societies. Readings:

González de Molina, M. (2023): “Social Metabolism”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/section/lp_479

Lomas, P.L. (2023): “Complex social-ecological systems”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/section/lp_75

Carpintero, O., Nieto, J. (2023): “Economy as an open system”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/section/lp_152

Haberl, H. (2023): “Nexus approaches in socio-metabolic research”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/section/lp_403


Topic 2: Integrated Multiscale Analysis of the Metabolism of Societies (MuSIASEM). Readings:

Giampietro, M., Mayumi, K., Ramos-Martin, J. (2009): “Multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism (MuSIASEM): Theoretical concepts and basic rationale”, Energy 34(3): 313-322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2008.07.020

Giampietro, M. (2023a). Multi-scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism. In: Villamayor-Tomas, S., Muradian, R. (eds) The Barcelona School of Ecological Economics and Political Ecology. Studies in Ecological Economics, vol 8. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22566-6_10

Giampietro, M. (2023b): “Metabolic flow”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/section/lp_368

Giampietro, M. (2023c): “Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM)”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/section/lp_385


Topic 3: Land and Time Budget Analysis. Readings:

Grunbuhel, C., Schandl, H. (2005): “Using land-time-budgets to analyse farming systems and poverty alleviation policies in the Lao PDR”, International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, Vol. 5 (3-4): 142-180. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJGENVI.2005.007990

Grünbühel, C.M. (2023): “Land-time budget analysis”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/page/pp_341

Scheidel, A., Giampietro, M., Ramos-Martín, J. (2013): “Self-sufficiency or surplus: Conflicting local and national rural development goals in Cambodia”, Land Use Policy, Vol. 34: 342-352, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2013.04.009


Topic 4: Material and Energy Flow Analysis. Readings:

Krausmann, F. (2023): “Material flow accounting”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/section/lp_357

Haberl, H., Fischer-Kowalski, M., Krausmann, F., Weisz, H., Winiwarter, V. (2004): “Progress towards sustainability? What the conceptual framework of material and energy flow accounting (MEFA) can offer”, Land Use Policy, Vol. 21 (3): 199-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2003.10.013

Fischer-Kowalski, M., Krausmann, F., Giljum, S., Lutter, S., Mayer, A., Bringezu, S., Moriguchi, Y., Schütz, H., Schandl, H. and Weisz, H. (2011), Methodology and Indicators of Economy-wide Material Flow Accounting. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 15: 855-876. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00366.x

Eurostat. (2018). Economy-wide material flow accounts handbook (2018 ed.). Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2785/158567

Infante‐Amate, J., Soto, D., Aguilera, E., García‐Ruiz, R., Guzmán, G., Cid, A., & González de Molina, M. (2015). The Spanish transition to industrial metabolism: Long‐term material flow analysis (1860–2010). Journal of Industrial Ecology, 19(5), 866-876. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12261


Topic 5: Fundamentals of Input-Output Analysis. Readings:

Serrano, M. (2023): “Environmental input-output analysis”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/section/lp_223

Hubacek, K., Feng, K. (2023): “Environmentally extended multi-region input-output analysis”, in Padilla Rosa, E., and Ramos-Martin, J. (Eds.) (2023): Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-80220-040-9. https://research.ebsco.com/c/c5g535/ebook-viewer/pdf/wskqmzsron/section/lp_259

Brown, N. (Ed.) (2021): Producing environmental accounts with environmentally extended input output analysis. Eurostat Statistical Working Paper. Luxemburg: Publications Office of the European Union. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3888793/12619420/KS-TC-21-001-EN-N.pdf/09655fd3-28ae-fc78-8025-0be6afbb3504?t=1617022228776

Miller, R. E., & Blair, P. D. (2022). Input-Output Analysis: Foundations and Extensions (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/1qnjagj/alma991010752173706709 (Chapter 2 ("The Basic Input-Output Model") + Appendix A ("Matrix Algebra for Input-Output Models") + Chapter 10 ("Environmental Input-Output Analysis"))

Kitzes, J. (2013). "An Introduction to Environmentally-Extended Input-Output Analysis". Resources, 2(4), 489–503. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources2040489

Weisz, H., & Duchin, F. (2006). "Physical and monetary input–output analysis: What makes the difference?" Ecological Economics, 57(3), 534–541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.05.011

Tukker, A., Pollitt, H., & Henkemans, M. (2020). Consumption-based carbon accounting: sense and sensibility. Climate Policy, 20(sup1), S1-S13. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2020.1728208





Software

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Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 English second semester afternoon