The Sustainability Trilemma - An Analytical Framework for Examining Structural Tensions Between Economic Growth, Social Well-being, and Ecological Sustainability

Abstract

The concept of sustainable development is commonly framed as the simultane- ous pursuit of economic growth, social well-being, and ecological sustainability. However, an increasing body of literature suggests that deep structural tensions exist between these objectives. Building on this insight, the paper introduces the theoretical framework of the sustainability trilemma, applying classical trilemma logic (Mundell–Fleming, Rodrik) to the analysis of sustainability challenges. The study adopts a theoretical and synthetic approach that integrates key perspectives from economics, governance theory, and sustainability science, including the energy trilemma, doughnut economics, and the green growth–degrowth debate. Through a systems-oriented perspective, the paper examines the recurring tensions between economic, social, and ecological objectives. The central argument of the model is that economic growth, social well-being, and ecological sustainability cannot be simultaneously maximized within contemporary growth-oriented institutional systems. The partial prioritization of any two dimensions tends to constrain the third. The paper analyses these tensions through three dominant trade-off configurations and the institutional and economic mechanisms underlying them. The framework interprets sustainability not merely as a normative objective, but as a governance problem shaped by persistent trade-offs between competing goals. The proposed model contributes to interdisciplinary sustainability research by offering an integrated analytical framework for understanding the interdependencies and tensions between economic, social, and ecological dimensions.