Sustainable freedom of choice: a new concept

Arbeitspapier

The value concept of traditional resource economics is welfare. Therefore, sustainability of welfare is often taken to characterise our obligations to future generations. This paper argues that this view is inappropriate because it leaves no room for future generations autonomy. Future generations should be free to make their own decisions. Consequently freedom of choice is the appropriate value concept on which resource economics should be based. The concept of sustainability receives a new interpretation. Sustainability is a principle of intertemporal distributive justice which requires equitable opportunities across generations.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Finanzwissenschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge ; No. 11

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Renewable Resources and Conservation: General ; Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Weikard, Hans-Peter
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Universität Potsdam, Lehrstuhl Finanzwissenschaft
• (where): Potsdam
• (when): 1996

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/30792
• URN: urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-8484
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET