Sustainability and sustainable development are concepts that are increasingly used in the field of public administration. In considering long-run planning, intergenerational equity, reduction of risk, and conservation of resources in administrative planning, sustainability may have a significant contributory role. This article traces the link between the principles of sustainable development and the tenets of public administration. In the application of broad-based sustainable development, it finds the reflection of efficiency, effectiveness, and citizen participation. By asking, Are the goals of sustainable development a match with public administration practice?, it finds that sustainable development may be applied to much of the work of the public sector, including to the provision of transportation, public housing, human services, and environmental protection. Finally, it suggests the unique contribution of sustainability to the field of public administration.
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