From: Tatiana Ivanova
In what ways do the concept of “sustainability and sustainable development”
challenge and enhanced “orthodox” economic theory?
If there was a question “In what ways should the concepts of “sustainability” challenge and
have enhanced neoclassic economic theory?” it would not be a problem to finish this essay
in several right and logically correct sentences. According to the main concepts of
sustainable development (the concept of needs and the idea of limitations) meeting the
needs in well-off human being, care about the nature and its potential, maintaining stable
social climate will enhance the quality of labor force, increase the level of income and
therefore of life, strengthen customer ability. All of these and other parts are crucial for
perfect work of mainstream economic machine.
Meeting essential needs of the world’s poor will improve the level of life. Education comes
next. With better standard of education human’s productivity rises sharply. Now mankind
is able to satisfy the world’s and its own needs by itself. It just needs to be fed.
Higher income causes higher demand. This is where customer ability rockets. Demand
rises, price rises, profit rises. Everything is perfect in here.
If consider the idea of limitation in context of technology improvement, rise of production,
profit maximization, it comes without saying that government and businesses might be
keeping the eye on damaging outcomes of economic activity. They should remember about
the Earth, which is supposed to feed the further hungry generations. For instance water
consumption is increasing twice faster than population growth is. A number of countries
have already used up their water resources. According to UN forecasts 67% of population
won’t have an access to clean water by 20301. However, we consume approximately 2393
liters of water to make one single hamburger2. So in several decades the planet will
obviously not be able to feed still growing in size Human. Or take ozone depletion. The
planet started to react on our treatment. It is injury on our own shield. We are destroying it
to annihilate ourselves. Chernobyl disaster is another good example. The nuclear accident
took over 500000 lives just in one shot3. Moreover, this area is still inappropriate for
living. All of these processes and disasters are products of human activity and it can be
called “ the Earth’s response”.
Nowadays a number of developed countries seem to be seriously concerned about these
issues. Huge corporations and government institutes play role of nature protectors mostly
because they can afford it. The good example is United States Environmental Protection
