The concept of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) challenges us to redefine success by equally weighing economic, environmental, and social value. While this framework is essential to the broader conversation on sustainability, it has surprisingly received very little formal attention within the specific field of economic development.
This research seeks to bridge that gap by providing a clear definition of TBL economic development and investigating how professionals in the field actually prioritize these three pillars in their real-world projects.
By examining the engagement and priorities of current practitioners, the study demonstrates that the Triple Bottom Line is not just a niche concept but is actually central to the evolution of the discipline.
The author concludes by offering strategic recommendations to advance both theory and practice, arguing that integrating social and ecological health into economic models is the only way to achieve truly meaningful progress.
Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.1177/0891242416674808
Reference
Hammer, J., & Pivo, G. (2016). The Triple Bottom Line and Sustainable Economic Development Theory and Practice. Economic Development Quarterly, 31(1), 25-36