1. G. Do you think that the lifestyle of the
inhabitants of your town or city reflects
behavior that is in line with the concept of
sustainable development? In your opinion,
what should be improved?
“Capitalism normalizes, destroys, kills”
Inscription on the wall of a building in
Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, a former east
Berlin district which is now one of the
most popular districts in Berlin
Thomas Hagemeijer, iMBA applicant, April 2014 intake

2. The Hipster’s subculture, omnipresent in Berlin1, characterizes
the best the lifestyle of Berlin inhabitants
Berlin’s Hipster: lifestyle and thoughts
A Berlin Hipster
To what extend does this behavior reflect sustainable development?
What is actually sustainable development?
Bike
Alternative lifestyle
Vegetarian
Going out
Independent music
Anti mainstream
Fair trade
1. Hipster Olympics (sport competition gathering hipsters around the world) took place in Berlin in 2012

3. Sustainable development can be defined around three pillars:
social, environment and economic
The three pillars of sustainable development
Social
Environment
Economic
■ Diversity
■ Participation and social cohesion
■ Awareness for sustainability
■ Renewable energy and reducing fossil fuel emissions
■ Organic farming and tree planting
■ Recycling and better waste management
■ Maintain a healthy balance with our environment
■ Creating wealth while preserving ability of future generations to get
access to wealth

4. Berlin inhabitants perform well on the social and environment
pillar, while being weak on the economic pillar
Berlin’s Hipster: performance on sustainability
Social
Environment
Economic
■ International city with cultural diversity
■ Alternative culture
The Berlin Hipster
High performanceLow performance
■ Bike as main transportation way
■ Organic and vegetarian food culture
■ Berlin is called the “Green” city
■ High unemployment rate in Berlin
■ Berlin’s resources partly rely on subsidies
given by the other regions of Germany

5. Berlin is an international city where alternative culture plays a
critical role
Selected example on social aspects in Berlin Social Pillar
■ Street art and bohemian
lifestyle belong to Berlin
■ There are around 150
museums, 140 libraries
and 60 theaters, making
berlin a world city for
culture
■ Pirates want more
transparency and stand
for e-democracy
■ Its members are part of
“internet generation”:
they want the freedom of
information
■ One of Pirates motto:
“Don’t trust any poster,
get the info yourself!”
■ No VIP areas in Berlin’s
clubs: no hierarchy
among people
■ Dress code is casual:
atmosphere is more
relaxed, and people get
more together.
Berghain club: a symbol of spirit
of freedom in Berlin
Art & Culture Politics Nightlife
Urban art: a painting on a
building in Berlin Kreuzberg
The “pirates”: a successful
political party in Berlin

6. Berlin is called the “green city” because nature is in the heart
of the city
5 facts which make Berlin a “green city” Environment Pillar
Fewest cars
per capita in
Germany
Countless
number of
solar-based
businesses
More than
400,000 trees
in the streets of
Berlin
Urban
Agriculture:
Planning An
Industrial-Sized
Rooftop Farm
30% of Berlin is
green spaces,
forest or
agriculturally
usable areas
Picture of Berlin main monuments, painted as a symbol in green

7. Berlin’s high unemployment rate makes the city’s economy
unsustainable
Unemployment rate and its consequences in Berlin Economic Pillar
Source: Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI)
Germany
average
7,7%
13,6%
Berlin
Unemployment Rate in Berlin
compared to Germany’s average
%, year 2010
 Berlin has the highest unemployment rate of all
Germany’s regions
 Berlin is known as “Capital of poverty”: one out of
six Berliners receives a social help (called “Hartz
IV”) from the State
 Purchasing power per inhabitant in Berlin is more
than 10% lower than country’s average
 Berlin’s economy is dependent on subsidies
coming from other regions

8.  Hub for
entrepreneurs
from throughout
the world
 Perfect
combination of
“hip” image with
cheap rents and
developed
infrastructure
 Highest
concentration of
researchers and
academics in
Germany (per
capita)
 Abundance of IT
graduates from
its 4 major
Universities
Berlin can improve its economy by developing its strengths:
High-tech industry, start up creation and tourism
The future of Berlin’s economy
High-tech industry Start up Creation Tourism
 Berlin has
become the third
destination in
Europe
 The number of
overnight stays
sets a new
record every
year
Sustainable Economy

9. But Berlin must also find the right balance between developing
its economy and keeping its unique spirit
Balancing Economic development and Berlin image
Economic
Development
Berlin’s unique spirit
“The greatest cultural
extravaganza that one could
imagine”
David Bowie, singer
“Berlin is poor, but sexy"
Klaus Wolwereit, current major
of Berlin
“You are crazy, my child. You
must go to Berlin”
Franz von Suppe, composer
Higher rents and higher cost of
living in general
Maximize revenue for the city
means less place for nature
inside the city
End of communal living and
famous artist’s houses like the
“Art House Tacheles”

10. Berliners have the right mindset to make Berlin an example of
“sustainable city of the future” but need to fight for that
The path to a sustainable future for Berliners
Keep the
same spirit
Fight against
the threats
Success
Gentrification
Increase of cost of living
Sacrifice the nature
Diversity of people…
…in communion with the
nature…
…to make a greater world
Alternative
“Get together”
Bike
Organic food