The role of governance in realising the transition towards sustainable societies

It is widely known that governance is central to the successful implementation of sustainable development policies and measures. Yet, there is a paucity of research which explore the links between governance and sustainability. This paper attempts to address this research need by providing an analysis of the role of governance in enabling - and to some extent - fostering a transition towards sustainable societies. A set of indicators for assessing the capacity for and willingness and commitment to transition to a more sustainable society is presented, enabling identification of direction of change. This paper presents the results of a study, in the context of which sustainability governance…

A theoretical assessment of the EU’s smart, sustainable and inclusive growth policy on resource use

An institutional capital approach to sustainable development

PurposeThe paper aims to outline and analyse some important elements of institutional capital and their potential effect on sustainable development.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents four elements of institutional capital: public domain, institutional strength, good governance, and institutional equilibrium. The choice of these elements and the analysis of their economic, social and environmental impacts are based on literature study and interpretation and extension of existing analyses which rather focus on either economic or environmental issues.FindingsThe main argument of the paper is that institutional capital is a fundament of sustainable development, and that a lack of suc…

The Role of Education in Preventing Diseases

Political change in Poland since the 1990s has involved not only transformation of the economy but also social policy, including that pertaining to the structure, financing, and functioning of the health care system. Health education and promotion is gaining in importance and increasingly is being seen as a strategy that is effective in limiting the incidence of certain diseases. Health education is effective because it helps make people aware that it is better to prevent disease than to cure it. As Sen (1999) reminds us, health is a vital component of human capability.

“INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL” AS A FACTOR OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ‐ THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INSTITUTIONAL EQUILIBRIUM / INSTITUCINIS KAPITALAS KAIP DARNAUS VYSTYMOSI VEIKSNYS – INSTITUCINĖS PUSIAUSVYROS SVARBA

The main aim of this article is to provide a basis for changing the focus in New Institutional Economics (NIE) from the economic effects of institutions to the importance of “institutional capital” for sustainable development. First, a theoretical model of NIE is presented in the context of sustainable development. Then, the concept of an institutional equilibrium (where informal institutions support and strengthen formal institutions) is discussed as an important determinant of “institutional capital” stimulating or hampering sustainable development. Santrauka Šio straipsnio tikslas – pateikti naujos institucinės ekonomikos (NIE) pokyčius, kai pastebimas perėjimas nuo ekonominių institucij…