Towards a Sustainable Economy : The Introduction of Ecological Premises into Long-Term Planning in Norway

The book presents a major new study of the potential for a 'sustainable economy' in Norway. With support from the Research Council of Norway and the Ministries of Finance and the Environment, the research team structured a dialogue between leading economists, environmental NGO's and politicians. The goal of the project was to integrate ecological indicators proposed by a so-called 'Green Parliament' into the macro-economic models and projections used by the official governmental planning apparatus. The book recounts in detail the structure of the project and the results of the analysis, laying particular weight on the fact that a more sustainable economy is clearly possible without serious disruptions of consumption or welfare. The implications of factoring in more stringent ecological demands for a number of sectors are explored, providing thereby specific parameters and scenarios for a more sustainable economy.