Extant research on the circular economy has explored intra- and inter-firm dynamics, activities and drivers, whilst macro level factors — systemic features of the national economy — have been somewhat neglected. In this conceptual article, we use the lens of national business system (NBS) theory to explore how different components and configurations of such systems encourage — or hinder — the adoption of the circular economy. We use three European examples (France, Germany and the United Kingdom) to illustrate our argumentation. Our analysis suggests that the development and implementation of circular economy measures necessitate an encompassing consideration of the NBS in which they are embedded. By foregrounding macro level phenomena, we contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of circular systems and offer a sound foundation for more effective policymaking.

现有的循环经济研究探索了企业内部和企业间的动态、活动和驱动因素，而宏观层面的因素——国民经济的系统特征——在某种程度上被忽视了。在这篇概念性文章中，我们使用国家商业系统 (NBS) 理论的视角来探索此类系统的不同组成部分和配置如何鼓励 - 或阻碍 - 循环经济的采用。我们使用三个欧洲的例子（法国、德国和英国）来说明我们的论点。我们的分析表明，循环经济措施的制定和实施需要对它们所嵌入的 NBS 进行全面考虑。通过强调宏观层面的现象，