Introduction

Economic development usually encompasses issues of growth and distribution. Development takes place when the gross national product (or income) per capita grows at a sustained pace over a long period without simultaneously worsening the distribution of income and increasing the number of absolute poor. Given that economic growth implies using resources, some of which are not renewable, to these requirements should also be added a condition with respect to sustainability. That is, growth should take place in a way that takes the true costs of resource depletion and environmental degradation into account. Growth should not be hampered, but resources must be left to future generations as well.