Cambridge International as and a level Economics Ebook

sustainable development
. Th
is occurs when output 
increases in a way that does not compromise the needs 
of future generations. Materials such as aluminium, 
paper and glass can be recycled. More use could be made 
of renewable resources in preference to non-renewable 
resources, and improvements in technology may both 
increase output and reduce pollution. Cutting back 
on CO
2
emissions, reducing landfi ll and dumping less 
waste into rivers and the sea are all central to realising 
improved sustainability.
Sustainable development: 
development that ensures 
that the needs of the present generation can be met without 
compromising the well-being of future generations.
KEY TERM
Pursuing sustainable development ensures that economic 
growth improves living standards and the quality of life 
not only in the present but also for the future. To achieve 
this requires a deliberate and concerted eff ort to balance 
economic, social and environment objectives. More 
specifi cally:
■ 
Economic objectives require a better use of resources. To be 
sustainable, growth should ensure that suff icient resources 
are available to invest in human capital as well as physical 
capital. Education and training programmes are central to 
this requirement.
■ 
Social objectives focus on the distribution of the 
benefits of growth. Food, housing, health care and 
secondary education are essential if people’s lives 
are to be productive. A sustainable approach involves 
an education system that gives girls the same 
opportunities as boys, is serious about reducing fertility 
rates, controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing 
for the elderly.
■ 
Environmental objectives require the responsible use of 
natural resources. This means that mineral extraction and 
forest depletion especially should be done in such a way 
that the benefits are not just short-term. Many people 
in developing countries lack clean water and proper 
sanitation, a reason why charities such as UNICEF invest 
heavily in these areas.