ECCO : computer fetishism or essential tool? : An assessment of the usefulness of the ECCO model in aiding sustainable development

Abstract

The notion of sustainable development is increasingly being promoted as a term for guiding resource management. However, the definition of sustainable development is unclear. This report attempts to assess the contribution of the ECCO (Enhanced Carrying Capacity Options) modelling technique to the debate surrounding sustainable development. The first part of the report presents a discussion of sustainable development; why it has emerged as a potential term for guiding contemporary development and current understanding of sustainable development. In order to gain an appreciation of the intricacies of ECCO modelling, a case study applying ECCO to the Fijian economy is presented in the next section of the report. The final chapters pull together the notion of sustainable development and the ECCO model in order to draw conclusions regarding the usefulness of the ECCO modelling tool in sustainable development. It was found that ECCO can potentially contribute to our understanding of sustainable development.