Intergenerational equity and sustainability
Padilla, Emilio (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Economia Aplicada)

Date:	2002
Abstract:	This paper explores the limitations of conventional economic analysis of intergenerational problems and examines some of the alternatives suggested in the literature. It is argued that proper consideration of future generations has at least three requirements. First, when future costs and benefits are considered, it should be taken into account that they are to be enjoyed by different generations. Second, the sustainability requirement should be adopted. This represents an equity commitment to the future and implies the recognition that future generations have the right to nondeteriorated ecological and economic capacity. The paper studies the ways in which the recognition of these rights might be incorporated into economic evaluation and management. Third, an appropriate institutional network to enforce the recognition of these rights in decision-making processes should be constituted. Its design and necessary functions are also analyzed.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Discounting ; Institutions ; Intergenerational equity ; Project evaluation ; Rights ; Sustainability ; Sustainable development
Published in:	Ecological economics, Vol. 41 (2002) , p. 69-83, ISSN 0921-8009

DOI: 10.1016/S0921-8009(02)00026-5

Postprint 30 p, 671.8 KB

The record appears in these collections:
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles