Finding Balance

The economy depends on the environment in order to function, yet one often gets sacrificed for the other. Economic development occurs at such a fast rate that it often overexploits the environment in order to support the people that rely on the economy. At the same time, some people believe the protection of the environment is a higher priority than fostering economic growth. While a sustainable use of resources is ideal, eventually there won’t be enough resources to support the economies that rely on them. When the resources are drained, the economy retains little of its growth because it is limited by the scarcity of resources.

            The economy often faces a trade-off between economic development and the sustainable use of resources; by finding a balance between the two, the economy is able to maintain a constant rate of growth without damaging the environment. The challenge of the future is finding a sustainable balance.

Economics vs. The Environment - An article that emphasizes the trade-off between trying to balance economic growth with environmental protection in China, a nation trying to sustain its economic growth.