A REGIONAL CONCEPT OF QUALITATIVE GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY - SUPPORTFOR A CASE-STUDY IN THE GERMAN STATE OF BADEN-WURTTEMBERG

The term 'sustainable development' is a prophetic combination of two w ords which unites both aspects - economic progress and environmental q uality - in one vision. This vision of an economic structure that meet s all needs of this generation without restricting the needs of future generations is highly attractive, because it reconciles the terms 'ec onomy' and 'ecology' - terms seen so often as opposites - and postulat es a generally acceptable distribution rule among generations. Lest th e concept of sustainable development deteriorates into meaningless ple as, it must be anchored and designed to suit definite requirements. Wh at is needed is a description of the concept that is as exact as possi ble, and details on how to implement it. Such a definition should allo w for flexibility - but not arbitrariness - in implementing the concep t. At the same time, the concept must have the strength of broadly acc epted reasoning behind it in order to remain applicable above and beyo nd the interests of various players involved. The project of the Cente r of Technology Assessment in Baden-Wurttemberg with the title 'Qualit ative Growth as Prerequisite for Sustainable Development in Baden-Wurt temberg' is an attempt to accomplish this objective. It is an attempt to help interpret the implications of the concept by developing genera l guidelines and conversation strategies for the various levels of pla yers involved. It will then test, and try to improve upon, the means p roposed to achieve the concept of sustainable development through case studies in the region that have been derived deductively from the con cept.