Technology development pathways: enigmas of appropriate technology choice

Abstract

Abstract The quest for technological development as a solution for sustainable development is the genesis of the multidimensional conflict between sustainability, competitive innovation and technological progress. Albeit persistent cognisance for appropriate technology solutions for a specific issue, the debate on the choice between short-run solutions and sustainability, local or global development, awareness and consumption, political gains, and citizens’ benefits remains inconclusive. This paper argues that the debate stems from misunderstanding the term sustainability and the strategic misrepresentation of technology for political gain. Concurrently, the inability of the market failure rationale to choose appropriate technology to minimise the divergence between the private and social benefit makes the policy formulation problem more intricate. Furthermore, despite increasing awareness regarding the environmental status, failure to alter their consumption pattern to reduce the energy requirement exacerbates the issues. These multidimensional aspects can obscure possibilities for true sustainability and socially deliberate technological futures.

Keywords

• Technological Innovation
• Choice of technology
• Sustainability
• Technology and politics
• Technology and market failure
• Technology and environmental awareness