Economics & Policy

Economics is vital to sustainability. At its simplest, economics examines the allocation of resources among competing alternatives. It provides a powerful framework to help decide what we value and what we might be willing to give up to get it.

Sustainability is about the relationship between the present and the future. If we want to make a decision on whether a household, a company or an entire economy is sustainable we need to make judgements about the future link actions in the present to their likely future consequences.

Achieving sustainability almost always means making trade-offs—trade-offs between competing options in the present and between the present and the future. Acting sustainably often requires analysis of complex issues and competing values under conditions of significant uncertainty—if only uncertainty about what the future may bring.

Economics provides tools to help make wise choices. This is why it is an essential part of understanding and delivering sustainable solutions. At Net Balance, economics integrates with every one of our other service-lines. It enables us to help clients make and implement decisions that lead to practical, sustainable action.