Sustainable Community
Development
- Introduction
- Lesson One - Three Systems of Sustainability
- Lesson Two - Why Plan for Sustainability
- Lesson Three - Sustainable Community Development Plans
- Lesson Four - Maryland Resources
- Lesson Five - A Process for Sustainable Community Development
- Review
- Certificate
Sustainable Community Development
An online class offered by the University of Maryland's Institute for Governmental Service and Research.
Lesson One - Three Systems of Sustainability
Advancing sustainable community development means creating policies for three overlapping systems: economic, environmental, and social.
Economic System
The economic system involves the allocation and distribution of a community's resources. It operates to provide opportunities for local consumers, entrepreneurs, and job seekers. Community planning for sustainability from an economic perspective means answering questions such as:
- What public investments in roads, water supply, stormwater management, wastewater treatment, public safety, and education should we make?
- What property rights and regulations are needed to support and regulate local markets for the production and consumption of goods and services?
- What mix and level of taxes should we impose on ourselves to provide for public goods and services?
- What incentives should we offer to attract, retain, and grow our private business sector?
