The Quest for a Sustainable Economy. Interpretations as to,Theories upon and Indicators of this

Abstract

For the author the gigantic scale of the problems of enviromental degradation and of the pressures to which
natrurally occuring basic materials are subject to are self evident. The fact that many writers have lately
held that there exists a fundamental incompatibility as between economic growth and ecological balance has
given rise during recent decades to a poilicy aim which has come to be called sustainable growth.
While granting that there are differing interpretations as to the concept, the author considers there to be a
certain degree of agreement as to the need to take into consideration economic and social considerations
besides those purely enviromental when seeking to adopt this concept as a concrete aim. When speaking
of its economic aspects, a call is seen for structural change in models for Growth and another for the way
its accountancy should be approached. When speaking of the concept’s social connotatations, mention is made
of issues such as equity , of generations as such or when contrasted with others, developed states and those
struggling to be so. Turning its attention towards things ecological, the paper mentions Intergrated Policy
for Products, the closing down of demand and supply cycles as well as techniques developed to identify,
quantify and characterise enviromental impact such as Life Cycle Analysis and Sustainable Growth Indicators.