Weak and strong sustainability indicators, and regional environmental resources

provided by Research Papers in Economics

Weak and Strong Sustainability Indicators,
and Regional Environmental Resources

Michael Kosz

Department of Economics, University of Klagenfurt
Universitaetsstrasse 65-67, A-9020 Klagenfurt, Austria

Ph +43-463-2700 6342, Fax +43-463-2700 6343, E-Mail [email protected]

Paper presented at the 38^th European Regional Science Association Congress, Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, 1998, Vienna

Abstract

Weak sustainability indicators often suffer from their unrealistic and inadequate assumption of
substitutability between natural capital and man-made capital. Defining sustainable develop-
ment in these terms is almost trivial although measurement problems as well as methodological
and sociological issues may be considered as major flaws of operationalizing weak sustainabil-
ity indicators. On the other hand, strong sustainability indicators rely on physical measures.
This ecological economics approach concedes that the economy is embedded in matter and
energy flows ultimately limited by solar energy input and the Earth's capability to produce
renewable resources and cope with emissions of all kinds. Along the example of regional envi-
ronmental resources like ground water in Austria, some thoughts on strong regional sus-
tainability indicators are presented.

Congress topic: Environmental Management, Sustainability and Development

Keywords: Weak/Strong Sustainability Indicators; Regional Indicators for Sustainable Devel-
opment

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