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Technology and the notion of sustainability

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  • Hansson, Sven Ove

Abstract

Some of the difficulties connected with the concept of sustainable development can be resolved if we distinguish between sustainability of different types of assets, in particular between those that pertain to technological uses and those that do not. A weak concept of sustainability is appropriate for the former and a strong concept for the latter. Furthermore, time discounting is appropriate (in the relatively short run) for the former but not for the latter. It is concluded that instead of choosing between weak and strong sustainability, the two notions should be included in the same analysis, since they are needed to account for different kinds of assets.

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  • Hansson, Sven Ove, 2010. "Technology and the notion of sustainability," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 274-279.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:32:y:2010:i:4:p:274-279
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2010.10.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
    2. Hansson, Sven Ove, 2007. "Philosophical Problems In Cost–Benefit Analysis," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(2), pages 163-183, July.
    3. Paul A. Samuelson, 1937. "A Note on Measurement of Utility," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 4(2), pages 155-161.
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    1. Mejía-Dugand, Santiago & Hjelm, Olof & Baas, Leo, 2017. "Public utility companies in liberalized markets – The impact of management models on local and regional sustainability," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 137-144.
    2. Adamo, Greta & Willis, Max, 2022. "Technologically mediated practices in sustainability transitions: Environmental monitoring and the ocean data buoy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    3. Vojko Potocan, 2021. "Technology and Corporate Social Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Lucia Corsini & James Moultrie, 2019. "Design for Social Sustainability: Using Digital Fabrication in the Humanitarian and Development Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Henckens, M.L.C.M. & Driessen, P.P.J. & Worrell, E., 2014. "Metal scarcity and sustainability, analyzing the necessity to reduce the extraction of scarce metals," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 1-8.
    6. Yanine, Franco F. & Sauma, Enzo E., 2013. "Review of grid-tie micro-generation systems without energy storage: Towards a new approach to sustainable hybrid energy systems linked to energy efficiency," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 60-95.
    7. Rae, Callum & Bradley, Fiona, 2012. "Energy autonomy in sustainable communities—A review of key issues," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(9), pages 6497-6506.
    8. Henckens, M.L.C.M. & Ryngaert, C.M.J. & Driessen, P.P.J. & Worrell, E., 2018. "Normative principles and the sustainable use of geologically scarce mineral resources," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 351-359.
    9. Winter, Scott R. & Crouse, Sean R. & Rice, Stephen, 2021. "The development of ‘green’ airports: Which factors influence willingness to pay for sustainability and intention to act? A structural and mediation model analysis," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    10. Henckens, M.L.C.M. & van Ierland, E.C. & Driessen, P.P.J. & Worrell, E., 2016. "Mineral resources: Geological scarcity, market price trends, and future generations," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 102-111.
    11. Walter Alfredo Salas-Zapata & Leonardo Alberto Ríos-Osorio & Jorge Antonio Mejía-Escobar, 2017. "Social-ecological resilience and the quest for sustainability as object of science," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 2237-2252, December.
    12. Rajesh, R., 2020. "Sustainable supply chains in the Indian context: An integrative decision-making model," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    13. Fatima Afzal & Benson Lim, 2022. "Organizational Factors Influencing the Sustainability Performance of Construction Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-17, August.

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