Lost in translation?

Is it meaningful to apply the concept of sustainable development to local-level decisions, including those made by municipalities, cities, firms, and individuals? We present two routes: The comprehensive route where a local-level decision satisfies all thresholds that define the sustainable development space. The comparative route where a local-level decision satisfies some of these thresholds, without compromising the nation’s ability to meet the others. We argue, that although the comprehensive route should guide our policies at the global and national level, it will often be infeasible, and not even socially desirable, to pursue that route at the local level.