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The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted billions of lives across the world and has revealed and worsened the social and economic inequalities that have emerged over the past several decades. As governments consider public health and economic strategies to respond the crisis, it is critical they also address the weaknesses of their economic and social systems that inhibited their ability to respond comprehensively to the pandemic. These same weaknesses have also undermined efforts to advance equality and sustainability. This paper explores over 30 interventions across the following nine categories of change that hold the potential to address inequality, provide all citizens with access to essential goods and services, and advance progress towards sustainability: (1) Income and wealth transfers to facilitate an equitable increase in purchasing power/disposable income; (2) broadening worker and citizen ownership of the means of production and supply of services, allowing corporate profit-taking to be more equitably distributed; (3) changes in the supply of essential goods and services for more citizens; (4) changes in the demand for more sustainable goods and services desired by people; (5) stabilizing and securing employment and the workforce; (6) reducing the disproportionate power of corporations and the very wealthy on the market and political system through the expansion and enforcement of antitrust law such that the dominance of a few firms in critical sectors no longer prevails; (7) government provision of essential goods and services such as education, healthcare, housing, food, and mobility; (8) a reallocation of government spending between military operations and domestic social needs; and (9) suspending or restructuring debt from emerging and developing countries. Any interventions that focus on growing the economy must also be accompanied by those that offset the resulting compromises to health, safety, and the environment from increasing unsustainable consumption. This paper compares and identifies the interventions that should be considered as an important foundational first step in moving beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and towards sustainability. In this regard, it provides a comprehensive set of strategies that could advance progress towards a component of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10 to reduce inequality within countries. However, the candidate interventions are also contrasted with all 17 SDGs to reveal potential problem areas/tradeoffs that may need careful attention.
Nicholas A. Ashford; Ralph P. Hall; Johan Arango-Quiroga; Kyriakos A. Metaxas; Amy L. Showalter. Addressing Inequality: The First Step Beyond COVID-19 and towards Sustainability. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5404 .
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford, Ralph P. Hall, Johan Arango-Quiroga, Kyriakos A. Metaxas, Amy L. Showalter. Addressing Inequality: The First Step Beyond COVID-19 and towards Sustainability. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (13):5404.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford; Ralph P. Hall; Johan Arango-Quiroga; Kyriakos A. Metaxas; Amy L. Showalter. 2020. "Addressing Inequality: The First Step Beyond COVID-19 and towards Sustainability." Sustainability 12, no. 13: 5404.
Over the past forty years, income growth for the middle and lower classes has stagnated, while the economy (and with it, economic inequality) has grown significantly. Early automation, the decline of labor unions, changes in corporate taxation, the financialization and globalization of the economy, deindustrialization in the U.S. and many OECD countries, and trade have contributed to these trends. However, the transformative roles of more recent automation and digital technologies/artificial intelligence (AI) are now considered by many as additional and potentially more potent forces undermining the ability of workers to maintain their foothold in the economy. These drivers of change are intensifying the extent to which advancing technology imbedded in increasingly productive real capital is driving productivity. To compound the problem, many solutions presented by industrialized nations to environmental problems rely on hyper-efficient technologies, which if fully implemented, could further advance the displacement of well-paid job opportunities for many. While there are numerous ways to address economic inequality, there is growing interest in using some form of universal basic income (UBI) to enhance income and provide economic stability. However, these approaches rarely consider the potential environmental impact from the likely increase in aggregate demand for goods and services or consider ways to focus this demand on more sustainable forms of consumption. Based on the premise that the problems of income distribution and environmental sustainability must be addressed in an integrated and holistic way, this paper considers how a range of approaches to financing a UBI system, and a complementary market solution based on an ownership-broadening approach to inclusive capitalism, might advance or undermine strategies to improve environmental sustainability.
Ralph P. Hall; Robert Ashford; Nicholas A. Ashford; Johan Arango-Quiroga. Universal Basic Income and Inclusive Capitalism: Consequences for Sustainability. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4481 .
AMA StyleRalph P. Hall, Robert Ashford, Nicholas A. Ashford, Johan Arango-Quiroga. Universal Basic Income and Inclusive Capitalism: Consequences for Sustainability. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (16):4481.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRalph P. Hall; Robert Ashford; Nicholas A. Ashford; Johan Arango-Quiroga. 2019. "Universal Basic Income and Inclusive Capitalism: Consequences for Sustainability." Sustainability 11, no. 16: 4481.
Strategic niche management and transition management have been promoted as useful avenues to pursue in order to achieve both specific product or process changes and system transformation by focusing on technology development through evolutionary and co-evolutionary processes, guided by government and relevant stakeholders. However, these processes are acknowledged to require decades to achieve their intended changes, a timeframe that is too long to adequately address many of the environmental and social issues many industrialized and industrializing nations are facing. An approach that involves incumbents and does not consider targets that look beyond reasonably foreseeable technology is likely to advance a model where incumbents evolve rather than being replaced or displaced. On the other hand, approaches that focus on creating new entrants could nurture niche development or deployment of disruptive technologies, but those technologies may only be marginally better than the technologies they replace. Either approach may take a long time to achieve their goals. Sustainable development requires both radical disruptive technological and institutional changes, the latter including stringent regulation, the integration of disparate goals, and changes in incentives to enable new voices to contribute to new systems and solutions. This paper outlines options for a strong governmental role in setting future sustainability goals and the pathways for achieving them.
Nicholas A. Ashford; Ralph P. Hall. Achieving Global Climate and Environmental Goals by Governmental Regulatory Targeting. Ecological Economics 2018, 152, 246 -259.
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford, Ralph P. Hall. Achieving Global Climate and Environmental Goals by Governmental Regulatory Targeting. Ecological Economics. 2018; 152 ():246-259.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford; Ralph P. Hall. 2018. "Achieving Global Climate and Environmental Goals by Governmental Regulatory Targeting." Ecological Economics 152, no. : 246-259.
Niniejszy artykuł skupia się na podejściu charakterystycznym dla ekonomii binarnej i wyjaśnia, w jaki sposób koncepcja ta może przyczynić się nie tylko do zwiększenia ich zdolności zarabiania kapitału, ale również do zwiększenia popytu na zatrudnienie oraz perspektyw osiągnięcia równowagi środowiskowej. Koncepcja ekonomii binarnej (ang. binary approach) proponuje wdrożenie systemu pozwalającego na rozszerzenie systemu własności finansów korporacyjnych, który byłby wolny od podatków, redystrybucji czy ingerencji państwa. Przedsiębiorstwa miałyby prawo do pozyskiwania źródeł finansowania swoich potrzeb tak, jak to robiły dotychczas, ale dysponowałyby jeszcze dodatkowymi, potencjalnie bardziej rentownymi instrumentami rynkowymi umożliwiającymi im takie działanie.
Robert Ashford; Ralph P. Hall; Nicholas A. Ashford. Koncepcja binary approach jako instrument kszta?towania zrównowa?onego wzrostu. Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny 2017, 79, 191 -201.
AMA StyleRobert Ashford, Ralph P. Hall, Nicholas A. Ashford. Koncepcja binary approach jako instrument kszta?towania zrównowa?onego wzrostu. Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny. 2017; 79 (4):191-201.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobert Ashford; Ralph P. Hall; Nicholas A. Ashford. 2017. "Koncepcja binary approach jako instrument kszta?towania zrównowa?onego wzrostu." Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny 79, no. 4: 191-201.
Nicholas A. Ashford; Charles C. Caldart. Environmental Protection Laws. International Encyclopedia of Public Health 2017, 507 -517.
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford, Charles C. Caldart. Environmental Protection Laws. International Encyclopedia of Public Health. 2017; ():507-517.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford; Charles C. Caldart. 2017. "Environmental Protection Laws." International Encyclopedia of Public Health , no. : 507-517.
“De-[Constructing] Growth” is offered as a more nuanced conceptualization that avoids the negative connotations of, and resistance to, “degrowth” by decoupling profit from unsustainable consumption, production, and inequality.
Nicholas A. Ashford. De-[Constructing] Growth. Sustainability 2016, 8, 1140 .
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford. De-[Constructing] Growth. Sustainability. 2016; 8 (11):1140.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford. 2016. "De-[Constructing] Growth." Sustainability 8, no. 11: 1140.
“De-[Constructing] Growth” is offered as a deeper and more useful conceptualization that avoids the negative connotations of, and resistance to, “degrowth” by decoupling profit from unsustainable consumption, production, and inequality.
Nicholas A. Ashford. De-[Constructing] Growth. 2016, 1 .
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford. De-[Constructing] Growth. . 2016; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford. 2016. "De-[Constructing] Growth." , no. : 1.
Nicholas A. Ashford; Patricia Bauman; Halina S. Brown; Richard W. Clapp; Adam M. Finkel; David Gee; Dale B. Hattis; Marco Martuzzi; Annie J. Sasco; Jennifer B. Sass. Cancer risk: Role of environment. Science 2015, 347, 727 -727.
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford, Patricia Bauman, Halina S. Brown, Richard W. Clapp, Adam M. Finkel, David Gee, Dale B. Hattis, Marco Martuzzi, Annie J. Sasco, Jennifer B. Sass. Cancer risk: Role of environment. Science. 2015; 347 (6223):727-727.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford; Patricia Bauman; Halina S. Brown; Richard W. Clapp; Adam M. Finkel; David Gee; Dale B. Hattis; Marco Martuzzi; Annie J. Sasco; Jennifer B. Sass. 2015. "Cancer risk: Role of environment." Science 347, no. 6223: 727-727.
Nicholas A. Ashford. Environmental Regulation, Globalization and Innovation. Handbook on Trade and the Environment 2013, 1 .
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford. Environmental Regulation, Globalization and Innovation. Handbook on Trade and the Environment. 2013; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford. 2013. "Environmental Regulation, Globalization and Innovation." Handbook on Trade and the Environment , no. : 1.
This article explores the pros and cons for reducing working hours in Europe. To arrive to an informed judgment we review critically the theoretical and empirical literature, mostly from economics, concerning the relation between working hours on the one hand, and productivity, employment, quality of life, and the environment, on the other. We adopt a binary economics distinction between capital and labor productiveness, and are concerned with how working hours may be reduced without harming the earning capacity of workers. There are reasons to believe that reducing working hours may absorb some unemployment, especially in the short-run, even if less than what is advocated by proponents of the proposal. Further, there may well be strong benefits for the quality of peoples’ lives. Environmental benefits are likely but depend crucially on complementary policies or social conditions that will ensure that the time liberated will not be directed to resource-intensive or environmentally harmful consumption. It is questionable whether reduced working hours are sustainable in the long-term given resource limits and climate change. We conclude that while the results of reducing working hours are uncertain, this may be a risk worth taking, especially as an interim measure that may relieve unemployment while other necessary structural changes are instituted.
Giorgos Kallis; Michael Kalush; Hugh O.'Flynn; Jack Rossiter; Nicholas Ashford. “Friday off”: Reducing Working Hours in Europe. Sustainability 2013, 5, 1545 -1567.
AMA StyleGiorgos Kallis, Michael Kalush, Hugh O.'Flynn, Jack Rossiter, Nicholas Ashford. “Friday off”: Reducing Working Hours in Europe. Sustainability. 2013; 5 (4):1545-1567.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiorgos Kallis; Michael Kalush; Hugh O.'Flynn; Jack Rossiter; Nicholas Ashford. 2013. "“Friday off”: Reducing Working Hours in Europe." Sustainability 5, no. 4: 1545-1567.
Nicholas A. Ashford; Ralph P. Hall; Robert H. Ashford. The crisis in employment and consumer demand: Reconciliation with environmental sustainability. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 2012, 2, 1 -22.
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford, Ralph P. Hall, Robert H. Ashford. The crisis in employment and consumer demand: Reconciliation with environmental sustainability. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 2012; 2 ():1-22.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford; Ralph P. Hall; Robert H. Ashford. 2012. "The crisis in employment and consumer demand: Reconciliation with environmental sustainability." Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 2, no. : 1-22.
This article explores the complex relationship between environmental regulation, innovation, and sustainable development within the context of an increasingly globalizing economy. The economic development, environment, and employment aspects of sustainable development are emphasized. We contend that the most crucial problem in achieving sustainability is lock-in or path dependency due to (1) the failure to envision, design, and implement policies that achieve co-optimization, or the mutually reinforcing, of social goals, and (2) entrenched economic and political interests that gain from the present system and advancement of its current trends. The article argues that industrial policy, environmental law and policy, and trade initiatives must be ‘opened up’ by expanding the practice of multi-purpose policy design, and that these policies must be integrated as well. Sustainable development requires stimulating revolutionary technological innovation through environmental, health, safety, economic, and labor market regulation. Greater support for these changes must also be reinforced by ‘opening up the participatory and political space’ to enable new voices to contribute to integrated thinking and solutions.
Nicholas A. Ashford; Ralph P. Hall. The Importance of Regulation-Induced Innovation for Sustainable Development. Sustainability 2011, 3, 270 -292.
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford, Ralph P. Hall. The Importance of Regulation-Induced Innovation for Sustainable Development. Sustainability. 2011; 3 (1):270-292.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford; Ralph P. Hall. 2011. "The Importance of Regulation-Induced Innovation for Sustainable Development." Sustainability 3, no. 1: 270-292.
The manufacturing, processing, and use of chemicals and materials in industrial workplaces are often accompanied by environmental, health, and safety hazards and risks. Occupational and environmental factors cause or exacerbate major diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, and nervous systems and cause systemic poisoning and some cancers and birth defects. Occupational and environmental disease and injury place heavy economic and social burdens on workers, employers, citizens, and taxpayers. Government intervention to address those issues largely takes the form of regulatory standards promulgated under the authority of federal legislation. This article addresses the major regulatory systems (or regimes) designed to protect public and worker health from chemicals discharged from sources that pollute the air, water, ground, and/or workplace in the United States. The European Union and other developed countries use similar approaches.
N.A. Ashford; C.C. Caldart. Environmental Protection Laws. International Encyclopedia of Public Health 2008, 390 -401.
AMA StyleN.A. Ashford, C.C. Caldart. Environmental Protection Laws. International Encyclopedia of Public Health. 2008; ():390-401.
Chicago/Turabian StyleN.A. Ashford; C.C. Caldart. 2008. "Environmental Protection Laws." International Encyclopedia of Public Health , no. : 390-401.
Lars Koch; Nicholas A. Ashford. Rethinking the role of information in chemicals policy: implications for TSCA and REACH. Journal of Cleaner Production 2006, 14, 31 -46.
AMA StyleLars Koch, Nicholas A. Ashford. Rethinking the role of information in chemicals policy: implications for TSCA and REACH. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2006; 14 (1):31-46.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLars Koch; Nicholas A. Ashford. 2006. "Rethinking the role of information in chemicals policy: implications for TSCA and REACH." Journal of Cleaner Production 14, no. 1: 31-46.
This article argues that the co‐evolution of environmental and industrial policies through a realistic melding of those concerns in sustainable development policies and practices is crucial. Furthermore, the authors are convinced that this requires a unified environmental technology plan for the Balkans that will be enhanced by European Union integration requirements. An initiative that can facilitate this effort—the joint United States–Greek Initiative for Technology Cooperation with the Balkans (the ITCB), is described.
Nicholas A. Ashford; Christi Electris. The Role of the United States–Greek Initiative for Technology Cooperation with the Balkans in Constructing a Unified Environmental Technology Plan. Southeast European and Black Sea Studies 2006, 6, 391 -397.
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford, Christi Electris. The Role of the United States–Greek Initiative for Technology Cooperation with the Balkans in Constructing a Unified Environmental Technology Plan. Southeast European and Black Sea Studies. 2006; 6 (3):391-397.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford; Christi Electris. 2006. "The Role of the United States–Greek Initiative for Technology Cooperation with the Balkans in Constructing a Unified Environmental Technology Plan." Southeast European and Black Sea Studies 6, no. 3: 391-397.
This report discusses the suitability of a General Safety Requirement (GSR) as a regulatory tool to meet Health Canada objectives to expand its role in monitoring and enforcing product safety. The GSR was initially developed in Europe to limit barriers to international trade. Legislation only outlines broad standards, and technical elaboration on the standard is left to experts in private sectors. The GSR has uncertainty built into its standards and definitions, making it difficult to enforce and for businesses to ensure they are in compliance without further public guidance. Health Canada may wish to reconsider using a GSR as an element of the new Canada Health Protection Act. Health Canada may not have access to the legal tools and remedies to enforce a GSR. The circumstances, benefits and costs of the GSR in Europe are not analogous to the situation in Canada. The GSR, particularly its mechanism of delegating quasi-regulation-making power to nongovernmental standard-setting bodies, may not be compatible with Canada's existing regulatory policy. That should be settled with central Government agencies before Health Canada pursues a GSR. The study concludes by suggesting alternatives to a General Safety Requirement.
Jamie Benidickson; Lyle Fairbairn; Claire Franklin; Nicholas A. Ashford; Elizabeth Nielsen; Daniel Krewski. The Role of a General Safety Requirement in Canada's Health Protection Regime. SSRN Electronic Journal 2006, 1 .
AMA StyleJamie Benidickson, Lyle Fairbairn, Claire Franklin, Nicholas A. Ashford, Elizabeth Nielsen, Daniel Krewski. The Role of a General Safety Requirement in Canada's Health Protection Regime. SSRN Electronic Journal. 2006; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJamie Benidickson; Lyle Fairbairn; Claire Franklin; Nicholas A. Ashford; Elizabeth Nielsen; Daniel Krewski. 2006. "The Role of a General Safety Requirement in Canada's Health Protection Regime." SSRN Electronic Journal , no. : 1.
This article challenges certain tenets of the theories of reflexive law and ecological modernization. While far-sighted prevention-oriented and structural changes are needed, some proponents of these theories argue that the very industries and firms that create environmental problems can, through continuous institutional learning; the application of life cycle analysis; dialogue and networks with stakeholders; and implementation of "environmental management systems," be transformed into sustainable industries and firms. While useful, these reforms are insufficient. It is not marginal or incremental changes that are needed for sustainability, but rather major product, process, and system transformations — often beyond the capacity of the dominant industries and firms. This article also questions the alleged failure of regulation to stimulate needed technological changes, and identifies the conditions under which innovation for sustainability can occur. Finally, it discusses differences in needed policies for industrialized and developing countries.
Nicholas A. Ashford. Government and Environmental Innovation in Europe and North America. Towards Environmental Innovation Systems 2005, 159 -174.
AMA StyleNicholas A. Ashford. Government and Environmental Innovation in Europe and North America. Towards Environmental Innovation Systems. 2005; ():159-174.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A. Ashford. 2005. "Government and Environmental Innovation in Europe and North America." Towards Environmental Innovation Systems , no. : 159-174.
The precautionary principle is in sharp political focus today because firstly the nature of scientific uncertainty is changing, and secondly there is increasing pressure to base governmental action on allegedly more ''rational'' schemes, such as cost-benefit analysis and quantitative risk assessment. The precautionary principle has been criticised as being both too vague and too arbitrary to form a basis for rational decision making. Contesting that view, this paper makes explicit the rational tenets of the precautionary principle within an analytical framework as rigorous as uncertainties permit, and one that mirrors democratic values embodied in regulatory, compensatory, and common law, based on equity and justice, to replace the economic paradigm of utilitarian cost-benefit analysis.
Nicholas Ashford. Implementing the precautionary principle: incorporating science, technology, fairness and accountability in environmental, health and safety decisions. International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management 2005, 5, 112 .
AMA StyleNicholas Ashford. Implementing the precautionary principle: incorporating science, technology, fairness and accountability in environmental, health and safety decisions. International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management. 2005; 5 (2/3/4):112.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas Ashford. 2005. "Implementing the precautionary principle: incorporating science, technology, fairness and accountability in environmental, health and safety decisions." International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management 5, no. 2/3/4: 112.
Scholars and professionals committed to fostering sustainable development have urged a re-examination of the curriculum and restructuring of research in engineering-focused institutions of higher learning. This article will address the following themes and questions: How can multi- and trans-disciplinary teaching and research coexist in a meaningful way in today's university structures? Does education relevant to sustainable development require its own protected incubating environment to survive, or will it otherwise be gobbled up and marginalized by attempting to instil it throughout the traditional curriculum? What roles can national and EU governments have in accelerating the needed changes? How can it be made safe for courageous students to take educational paths different from traditional tracks, even if technical options exist to do so? What can one learn from comparative analysis of universities in different nations and environments?
Nicholas Ashford. Major challenges to engineering education for sustainable development. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 2004, 5, 239 -250.
AMA StyleNicholas Ashford. Major challenges to engineering education for sustainable development. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 2004; 5 (3):239-250.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas Ashford. 2004. "Major challenges to engineering education for sustainable development." International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 5, no. 3: 239-250.
Nicholas A Ashford. The Economic Dynamics of Environmental Law: David M. Driesen, MIT Press, 2003, ISBN: 0262541394, 272 pp. Ecological Economics 2004, 49, 408 -410.
AMA StyleNicholas A Ashford. The Economic Dynamics of Environmental Law: David M. Driesen, MIT Press, 2003, ISBN: 0262541394, 272 pp. Ecological Economics. 2004; 49 (3):408-410.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas A Ashford. 2004. "The Economic Dynamics of Environmental Law: David M. Driesen, MIT Press, 2003, ISBN: 0262541394, 272 pp." Ecological Economics 49, no. 3: 408-410.