Powering Wealth
How entrepreneurial families shape the energy transition in Germany and Mexico
ABOUT
the project
The international research project Powering Wealth examines how entrepreneurial families and family-owned firms influence the energy transition in Germany and Mexico. The project takes a long-term perspective on the relationship between family-controlled economic resources and energy transitions, analysing the period from ca. 1870 to today. Within this timeframe, we study the investment strategies of owner families and long-term investors with a focus on energy in order to better understand their role in shaping energy politics.
The project is designed as a historical comparative case study for Germany and Mexico—two countries characterised by a strong presence of family-based ownership structures and energy-driven economic development. Yet, while Germany is energy-poor, Mexico has significant oil resources. These structural differences allow for an analysis of the interactions between capital investment, energy policy, and long-term intergenerational strategies.
The project combines historical process tracing, qualitative interviews, and archival sources (especially wills). On the basis of these materials, we/the project reconstruct investment decisions and the entrepreneurs' thinking around energy over a long historical period.
The integration of political analysis and collaboration with artists extends the impact of the project beyond the academic sphere. This interdisciplinary approach deepens the scope of the research and contributes to a nuanced understanding of the role of entrepreneurial families and family-owned firms in the energy transition.
The project is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.
Learn more about the people behind the project on our TEAM page. For current insights into our activities, visit the NEWS page.