GOOD INDICATORSARE HARD TO FIND

Susan OffuttEconomic Research Service

United States Department of Agriculture

SUSTAINABILITY

To leave for future generations the same or expanded set of opportunities compared to

those available to us today

SOURCES OF US FARM HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Wages andSalariesFarm Income

Interest andDivividendsOff farmbusinessOther Off farmincome

JOB OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR

• Measure improvement or deterioration in economic, social, and environmental conditions

• Support analysis and design of public policies that would move us toward sustainability

EUROPEAN UNIONRURAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Support for rural development shall contribute to the achieving the following goals:

• improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry by means of support for restructuring;

• improving the environment and the countryside by means of support for land management;

• improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity

UNITED STATES RURAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS

• expand markets for agricultural products and support economic development,

• further develop alternative markets for agricultural products and activities,

• provide financing needed to help expand job opportunities and improve housing utilities and infrastructure in rural America,

• manage and protect America’s public and private lands working cooperatively with other levels of government and the private sector.

MEXICORURAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS

• develop a new rural society based on sustainable growth of the agrifood system and good governance that preserves the natural environment

• attain higher efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability of domestic production in national and international markets

• develop the supply chain and promote agricultural diversification that will provide additional sources of income and employment for the rural economy

• promote and take advantage of scientific advances and new technologies that support agricultural productivity, profitability and competitiveness for the rural sector and national economic development

Source: Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2001-2006, Programa Sectorial SAGARPA 2001-2006, Programa Especial Concurrente

Immune System

UNEMPLOYMENT

FARM HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTION

Farm Household(labor, land, capital)

Leisure Off-farm Farm

Government

Commodities

Social Value

Income

Household Utility

Pollution

Amenities

ProducedAssetsNatural Capital

Humanresources

ProducedAssetsNatural Capital

Humanresources

ProducedAssetsNatural Capital

Humanresources

COMPOSITION OF WORLD WEALTH BY INCOME GROUP

Raw material exporters

Other developing countries

High-income countries

Source: World Bank

UNITED STATES INDICATORS STATE OF THE ART

Information Area Development Stage

ECONOMIC SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

Advanced Macroeconomy EducationHealthCrimeSocial Support

Developing CommunityGovernance

Ecology

Formative SustainabilityTransparency

SustainabilityTransparencySecurity

Sustainability

DISTRIBUTION OF UNITED STATES SPENDING ON STATISTICAL DATA COLLECTION

0200400600800

1000120014001600

Million $

THE ANATOMY LESSON