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Spatial development and sustainability

Spatial development means the comprehensive development of agglomerations, towns, and villages. The aim is to coordinate settlement, transport and landscape development and policy in such a way that (a) the landscape is equally protected as a habitat for plants, animals, and people, (b) the careful use of finite resources is ensured, (c) post-fossil forms of mobility are promoted, (d) housing is affordable and liveable for all, public space is accessible and usable for all, and (e) everyone can participate and contribute to shaping the environment.

The impact of different legal systems on spatial development is particularly relevant for Liechtenstein due to its geographical location in a diverse border area and the associated influence of different, spatially, and factually delimited legal zones of influence.

  • Strategies, instruments, and interventions for landscape-oriented inward settlement development (urbanisation)
  • Forms of participatory spatial development
  • Potentials and limits of the different planning systems and legal areas as well as analysis of thematic and structural interfaces
  • Development of political aspects and incentives (tax systems, investment products, forms of organisation) that contribute to the support of the above-mentioned goals.

 

Sustainability describes normative action guided by the precautionary principle that enables present and future generations to enjoy comparable living conditions by applying the necessary strategies, methods and means in a careful, responsible, just, and equitable manner. Sustainability is a goal for society that must be constantly rebalanced and entails individual, collective, and institutional obligations. Research at the University of Liechtenstein contributes to the transformation towards a sustainable society through basic and application-oriented work in the various research areas.

  • The integration of ecological and social-societal aspects in business practice, economics, financial services, or investment instruments.
  •  The analysis and further development of the legal basis of a sustainable society as well as the legal control and guidelines for the transformation into a sustainable economy and society
  • The topic of "alternative project development", which integrates economic, ecological, and social aspects into "sustainable construction" on an equal footing
  • The role and importance of social and economic sciences as well as spatial development for the transformation to a sustainable society