SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ASPECTS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Cover Image

Ekonomikos plėtra darnaus vystymosi aspektu
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ASPECTS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Author(s): Remigijus Čiegis, Ramunė Zeleniūtė
Subject(s): Economy
Published by: Vytauto Didžiojo Universitetas
Keywords: ekonomika; plėtra; darnus vystymasis; vertinimas; indikatoriai; economy; development; sustainable development; assessment; indicators

Summary/Abstract: The article evaluates the process of economic development by sustainability aspect. According to the collected theoretical and practical material, the assessment of economy sustainablity from the viewpoint of principles and systems of environmental economics, strategical management and sustainable development are reviewed. As common concept, the sustainable development covers three major approaches: economic, environmental and social development which are mentioned in literature as interdepended and complementary. Concept is very wide and in some contexts the ecological, institutional, cultural, ethical aspects are included as well. From the other side, this wide range of aspects, which are included in sustainable development, make ir weakly defined and the object of discusions. From this point of view, it is possible to have some contradictions of sustainable development concepts. The economic sustainability element is base concept of maximum income, which can be acquired by saving essential wealth (capital d upon R. Solow’s amplified theory on capital convertibility and R. Hicks-E. Lindahl) and resources for the benefit of future generations, (implementing the principle of fair distribution among generations). Literature offers many definitions of sustainable development, but it is thought appropriate to use the classical definition, which postulates that “sustainable development is the kind of development, which satisfies the current needs without endangering the future generations to satisfy their own.” The major purpose of the sustainable development is to find optimal level of interaction between three systems – biological and natural resources system, economic and social systems. Sustainable economic development includes sustainable development of major branches of economy – agriculture, transport, energy, industry, tourism and household. Each of them is discussed in the paper. As sustainable development is consistent goal, we need to have means how to measure our progress. Economic efficiency does not guarantee ecological and social sustainability, because economic indicators do not reflect ecological and social sustainability. The assessment of sustainable development require integral view to the world, set of multi dimension indicators, which assess parts of investigated system and connections between them. GDP is major indicator of economic activity and often considered as best indicator of economic success, wealth and economic power. But this measure is not indicator of welfare. To have indicator, which will reflect social welfare, it was many attempts to modify GDP. As better indicators, were suggested Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare and Indicator of Genuine Progress, which are more deeply investigated in this paper. For assessment of ecological aspect of sustainable development we use environmental indicators too. In this case very important are carrying capacity, ecological footprint and environmental space conce

  • Issue Year: 2/2008
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 37-54
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Lithuanian