A System-Theoretical Discussion of the (Non-)Sustainability of Development Strategies

Abstract

One of the major topics in the nowadays developing countries is the question of the sustainability of their development strategies. While there are many economic arguments in the discussion of this topic, it seems that a system-theoretical analysis of the sustainability of development strategies is inevitable, since development dynamics are determined by the interactions across the economic, socio-cultural, political, and natural system. We provide a simple qualitative model of these dynamics/interactions focusing on the sustainability of development strategies.

Keywords: sustainability, development strategy, emerging countries, economic, socio-cultural, ecological, political, system, inequality, pollution, growth, policy regime, switch

JEL Classification: O40, A12, Q56