4.1. The Notion of Efficiency Reveals Tensions Between Economics and Equity
Baumgärtner and Quaas (2010a) define efficiency as “non-wastefulness, in the use of scarce resources”. A more concrete efficiency criterion is neither specified in this contribution nor precisely dealt with in the subsequent conversation. Efficiency can refer to ex-ante conditions
or ex-post outcome. It can also be defined on the micro-, meso-, or macro-level. Finally, it can address adaptive or allocative principles (North, 1995). All these criteria lead to very different outcomes and therefore cannot remain unspecified. The definition of concrete sustainable development paths requires that concrete criteria of efficiency be defined.