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Thinking About the Future: An Intergenerational Perspective on the Conflict and Compatibility Between Economic and Environmental Interests

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wade-Benzoni, KA
Published in: American Behavioral Scientist
January 1, 1999

The current “win-lose” versus “win-win” debate on the relationship between economic competitiveness and environmental protection is biased toward win-lose by a narrow focus on the economic interests of a specific actor. When economic interests are broadened to include the interests of other parties, especially other parties in future generations, the opportunity to create aggregate value becomes more apparent. The intergenerational perspective enables us to see that in the long-run, economic and environmental interests often converge as resources are transferred across generations. The intergenerational perspective is particularly useful in highlighting the appropriateness of adopting this broader understanding of economic interests because the relationship between the economic interests of various actors often only becomes apparent over a period of time spanning across several generations. There are a number of factors that prevent us from taking this intergenerational perspective, which leads to intergenerational discounting. Recent research suggests ways of dealing with obstacles to thinking in intergenerational terms. © 1999, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Published In

American Behavioral Scientist

DOI

ISSN

0002-7642

Publication Date

January 1, 1999

Volume

42

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1393 / 1405

Related Subject Headings

  • General Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Wade-Benzoni, K. A. (1999). Thinking About the Future: An Intergenerational Perspective on the Conflict and Compatibility Between Economic and Environmental Interests. American Behavioral Scientist, 42(8), 1393–1405. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027649921954912
Wade-Benzoni, K. A. “Thinking About the Future: An Intergenerational Perspective on the Conflict and Compatibility Between Economic and Environmental Interests.” American Behavioral Scientist 42, no. 8 (January 1, 1999): 1393–1405. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027649921954912.
Wade-Benzoni, K. A. “Thinking About the Future: An Intergenerational Perspective on the Conflict and Compatibility Between Economic and Environmental Interests.” American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 42, no. 8, Jan. 1999, pp. 1393–405. Scopus, doi:10.1177/00027649921954912.
Journal cover image

Published In

American Behavioral Scientist

DOI

ISSN

0002-7642

Publication Date

January 1, 1999

Volume

42

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1393 / 1405

Related Subject Headings

  • General Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology