Sumario: | Three main elements characterise the notion of sustainable development: first, a broad view of human well-being, in which environmental and social elements are important as well as economic ones; second, the view that many of the effects of today's decisions will last over time, thereby affecting the well-being of future generations; third, the view that many of today's problems have their roots in actions and policies in other fields, whose unintended consequences may not be coherent with society's broader priorities and aspirations. While particularly relevant in the environment field, Chapter 1 argues that these notions also permeate analysis of a large range of social concerns. This is so in particular because of their intergenerational dimension. Social problems affecting individuals in a given phase of their life-course often influence their opportunities at a later phase, as well as those of their offspring. Most social programmes also represent a form of intergenerational ...
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