Governance

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If we assume that humans, if left totally independent of superior control, will behave in such a way that is not sustainable then we must come up with a tool to alter the behaviour of the majority. This is a direction I am not quite sure will work but there is clear evidence that attempts are being made.

What I mean by control is essentially the laws and regulations (and perhaps cultures) of governments to control the behaviour of their respective populations. Carbon taxes try to put consumers off from polluting products, the push for a new international crime against peace known as ecocide and the use of national parks and green belts to preserve our natural surroundings are a few examples. There are many issues with trying to control the behaviour of individuals but it must be said that governmental control has worked in the past. For example, the majority of people in the UK do not want to commit crimes such as murder, because of the huge penalty it comes with. People in the UK will tend to drive under the speed limit because there are laws to punish them otherwise, showing that control can be quite easily achieved. Using money as a mechanism to deter people from unwanted behaviour sounds like a good plan, but not everybody is willing to obey. For example, carbon emission trading schemes have been implemented but companies have found ways to avoid them and it does not look like the majority of companies will turn completely carbon neutral because of such trading schemes. Other methods of control come against strong opposition, especially when we consider the demand for economic growth which unfortunately seems to contradict the demands for ecological stability. I consider this perhaps the most fundamental flaw in our current monetary system.

Whilst laws and monetary incentives have limitations, there is another form of control from governments that can help shift humanity towards sustainability. Education will play a vital role in the attitudes of young generations to ensure sustainability is embedded within the activities in society, and this is something the government has a direct control over by constructing national curriculum's. The other vital control a government has is helping to change the culture of a society. The use of the media I feel is extremely powerful but at the moment does not seem to be changing the actions of most individuals to become more sustainable. Similarly, a government can alter a culture through education and perhaps even through taxes/laws and regulations. A simple example of this is how different countries organize themselves and how different societies behave. For example, Amsterdam has electric and hybrid charge stations around its city (albeit quite rare) whereas most UK cities do not. The fact that some countries seem to display more sustainable practices than others suggests that a culture can change, and governments play a vital role in doing so.



The study of economics is vital when considering the use of control to ensure humanity follows a sustainable development path. Luckily, I am able to study this subject and hope to contribute to the solutions of our current global challenges. Thank you for reading.