Rising poverty and an increasing gap between the rich and poor are examples of current trends that are not sustainable. Other examples include the growing percentage of women and children living in poverty and the expanding use of non-renewable natural resources. Trends like these have led some economists to conclude that our current framework for making economic development decisions does not work. We have failed to manage our economy in a way that meets the needs of all households and communities. Our ecological footprint is getting bigger, not smaller.
Equity continues to be a challenge.
Part of the problem is that very few people are actively involved in making economic development decisions for their community. The typical development model seems designed to discourage citizen participation. It is as if economic development were some highly technical field, which the average person is incapable of understanding. In many communities people feel that economic development is something being done for them or to them, not by them. These are not communities by choice.