Sustainable economies in the Arctic

We define a sustainable economy as one that provides for its residents’ material wellbeing over time. Concerns about sustainability are treated as questions about local economies. General characteristics of Arctic economies and the challenges to the sustainability of these types of economies are described. Economic remoteness, limited economic bases, and significant external control challenge the goal of a sustainable economy. Climate change and place-specific poverty also challenge the creation of sustainable Arctic economies. We use case studies to illustrate the challenge of Arctic economic sustainability and provide examples illustrating long-term sustainability, the resilience of specific places amid change, and unsustainable economies. Different scales, histories, and environments are considered to understand the limits and responses to possible economic sustainability in the Arctic.