Seeks to analyze the economic basis for the definition of sustainable development as given by the Brundtland Commission. This volume also looks at the critiques of the economic approach.

A definition of sustainable development is that of the Brundtland Commission - "...development which meets the needs of the current generation without jeopardizing the needs of future generations". This volume seeks to analyze the economic basis for this definition, and to look at the critiques of the economic approach - which have their basis in growing disquiet over the role of the productive normative science driving technological change and economic transformation. The discussion is followed by studies of the application of the criteria of sustainability to rural problems in South Asia, Kenya, Nepal, and Latin America and to urban/industrial problems in Jamaica, Chile and Vietnam.

Part 1 Introduction: An overview of approaches to sustainable developments, Richard Auty, Katrina Brown. Part 2 Approaches to sustainable development: Accounting for sustainability, Kirk Hamilton
Sustainable management of water resources - an economic view, James Winpenny
Labour force analysis and sustainability of rural livelihood in a low income country - Bangladesh, John Cameron
Sustainable utilisation - a grand illusion? ecological, economic and developmental perspectives, Katrina Brown. Part 3 Rural applications of sustainability: Food and population in south Asia - recent trends and prospects, Tim Dyson
Strategies for sustainable pastoralism in Marsabit District, Kenya, Oriel Kenny
Annapurna conservation area project, Nepal - a successful or sustainable project? Sara Parker
Participation and sustainable development in Colombia, Philip O'Brian. Part 4 Coping with industrialisation and pollution: Sustaining mineral-driven development - Chile/Jamaica, Richard Auty
Pollution patterns in the industrialisation process, Richard Auty, Michael Tribe
Sustainable industrialisation in Vietnam - social change and the environment in transitional developing countries, Tim Forsyth
Earth summit north and south - building a safe house in the winds of change, Jacqueline Roddick. Part 5 Conclusion: Taking stock of sustainable development, Richard Auty, Katrina Brown.