Chapter 18: The Problem of Unequal Implementation of the Initiatives in the Sphere of Building the Circular Economy in the Modern Global Economic System

The course at sustainable development is usually treated from three perspectives. On the one hand, it is treated as systemic study of economic systems, which covers the social, economic, and ecological spheres. In this case, special attention is paid to the reduction of social and ecological costs of economic growth. From the ecological point of view, here we speak of reduction of resource intensity and decrease in production and consumption waste. The main idea is to ensure satisfaction of the society’s needs and to preserve the environment.

On the other hand, sustainable development is seen as supporting the stability of economic systems. This manifestation of sustainable development became especially important in view of the recent global financial crisis. It is implemented through counter-cyclic regulation of economic activities for preventing crises of any origin – economic, social, and ecological, as the risk of dissemination of negative phenomena of the global scale to the global economy – in the conditions of globalization – is very high.