Circle Economy has recently published a report entitled The Role of Municipal Policy in the Circular Economy: Investment, Jobs and Social Capital in Circular Cities, which summarises the results of a study in collaboration with the Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organisation and the support of the Goldschmeding Foundation. The report explores the link between municipalities pursuing circular economy policy and investments in circular business for job creation. It also examines more closely how businesses perceive municipal support for the circular economy.
The report provides an overview of the estimated gross employment effects of municipal circular economy policy; it shows how municipalities can use a range of regulatory, economic and soft instruments to ensure the circular development of cities. The municipal mandate embraces public policy that is directly linked to circular economy activities. Municipal circular policies promote job creation, while loans and subsidies for circular economy activities help to overcome financial barriers.
The report also provides an insight into five concrete examples of policy intervention for the circular economy in some of Europe's major cities, such as Barcelona Zero Waste Strategy and Paris Circular Economy Roadmap. The results described in the report show a positive relationship between these circular economy policies and job creation. For further illustration, in a different section of the document, there are eight examples of businesses active in the circular economy, and how they perceive these policy interventions.
The report is limited to job opportunities created by foreign investment only, and does not cover all the small sectors that do not receive this type of investment.
