Representing, Reducing or Removing Complexity: Indicators of Sustainability and Fiscal Sustainability

16 Pages Posted: 3 Jul 2014

See all articles by Nehal Bhuta

Nehal Bhuta

European University Institute; European University Institute - Department of Law (LAW)

Debora Malito

European University Institute

Gaby Umbach

European University Institute ; University of Cologne

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: July 1, 2014

Abstract

During the last two decades numerous indicators measuring sustainability and its different dimensions have been created. The 2007 economic crisis led to increased scrutiny of public sector fiscal imbalances, and efforts to create more sophisticated measures of fiscal sustainability. The literature on this recent formulation and use of sustainability indicators is broad and contested. It however largely tends to focus on fiscal components, while wider meanings of sustainability are accounted for to a lesser degree. This working paper examines the conceptual and empirical questions relating to the production of indicators of sustainability, both in the sense of fiscal sustainability and sustainable development. It also discusses the uses of sustainability indicators.

Keywords: Economic and financial crisis, Fiscal sustainability, Public debt, GDP, Sustainable development

Suggested Citation

Bhuta, Nehal and Malito, Debora and Umbach, Gaby, Representing, Reducing or Removing Complexity: Indicators of Sustainability and Fiscal Sustainability (July 1, 2014). Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies Working Paper No. 2014/78, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2462023 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2462023

Nehal Bhuta

European University Institute ( email )

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European University Institute - Department of Law (LAW) ( email )

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Debora Malito

European University Institute ( email )

Villa Schifanoia
133 via Bocaccio
Firenze (Florence), Tuscany 50014
Italy

Gaby Umbach (Contact Author)

European University Institute ( email )

Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies
Via delle Fontanelle 18
50014 San Domenico di Fiesole, Florence 50014
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/our-faculty/umbach/

University of Cologne ( email )

Institute for Political Science & European Studies
Gottfried-Keller-Str. 1
Cologne, D-50931
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.jeanmonnetchair.uni-koeln.de/26638.html?&L=1

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