Maximization, partial regulation, and system dominance: Can they be drivers of true sustainability?

Three of the fundamental aspects under which current development programs operate are self‐interest‐based plans, compartmentalized regulatory environments, and unbalanced competition. These forces are important components of traditional sustainable development frameworks as they allow for processes based on maximization, partial regulation, and system dominance. It is pointed out in this paper, using qualitative comparative means, that these forces are drivers of sustained development, but not of true sustainability. And the reason is that under true sustainability, there is no maximization; there is no partial regulation; and there are no dominated systems.