What the council of economic advisors need to know about sustainable development

Williams, Evan and McRory, Eric and Richards, Caspian and Mathieson, Scot (2007) What the council of economic advisors need to know about sustainable development. Quarterly Economic Commentary, 31 (4). pp. 49-53. ISSN 0306-7866

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Abstract

The decision by Alex Salmond to appoint a Council of Economic Advisors to move economic decision making away from purely political rationale is particularly welcome given the new administration’s commitment to sustainable economic growth as the overarching priority. From the first Minister’s statement to parliament4 is clear that as an economist he recognises that sustainable economic growth is not (just) economic growth that continues but economic growth that is environmentally and socially sustainable. In the Scottish Environment Protection Agency we have wrestled with just what sustainable economic growth might mean and here we offer some of our own thoughts to help the new council of economic advisors in their work.