The Notion of "Sustainable Development"

Amundsen, Eirik S. and Asheim, Geir (1991): The Notion of "Sustainable Development". Published in: The Nordic Journal of Environmental Economics , Vol. Vol. 2, (November 1991): pp. 10-14.

Abstract

The notion of ‘sustainable development’ was introduced on the political agenda by the World Commission on Environment and Development through its report (WCED, 1987), also called the Brundtland Report. Since the publication of the Brundtland Report the notion of sustainability has been used (and abused) a rich variety of ways. The present purpose is to give a clarifying interpretation of this notion. We will consider sustainability to be a requirement for a just distribution of quality of life between generations. The question of intergenerational justice has become a question of increasing importance in the latter years, since it is now in the capacity of the current generation to ruin the natural and environmental resource base of our descendants.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: sustainable development, economics
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D6 - Welfare Economics > D63 - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement; B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B4 - Economic Methodology > B41 - Economic Methodology

References

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Asheim, G. (1991a): Unjust intergenerational allocations. Journal of Economic Theory 54: 350-371

Asheim, G. (1991b): Bærekraftighet og økonomi (Sustainability and economics) in Gjedåker, S. And L. Gule: Den uoverstigelige grense; tanke og handling i miljøkmpen. Cappelen, Oslo 1991.

Mähler, K.,-G. (1990): Sustainable development, in NAVF: Sustainable Development, Science and Policy. NAVF, Oslo 1990.

Pearce, D. W. and R.K. Turner: Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. Harvester Wheatsheaf 1990. WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development): Our Common Future. Oxford University Press 1987.