Sustainable Development: A Dynamic Systems Perspective

Abstract

"This paper describes a dynamic systems model consistent with a broadly-defined quality of life measure, and uses this framework to taxonomize a number of strands of research that explicitly, or implicitly, bear on the topic of sustainable development. The review is based on a selective group of 'representative' articles from each literature that convey their central modeling components, research questions, and sustainability implications. We then judge what synthetic insights are missing from the accretion of information embodied in these separate literatures, and attempt to assess what the 'bigger picture' dynamic frame of reference suggests about the need for additional research."