The aim of this paper is to explore the connections between the time dimension of economic phenomena and that of natural ones within the context of global (joint emissions of the energy sector) or local (joint product of waste) pollutions affecting present and future generations. Discounting constitutes a first way but leads to some difficulties when fairness must be taken into account. Furthermore, to take into account the interdependencies between economics and natural environment involves irreversibility of time. At last, ethics which is a key dimension of the sustainable development is introduced with Jonas’s responsibility principle. In this way, discounting can be used under some limits regarding economic decisions.
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Paper provided by Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée in its series Cahiers du GREThA with number
2007-10.