The Triple Bottom Line and Sustainable Economic Development Theory and Practice

The triple bottom line refers to economic, environmental, and social value of an investment and is related to the concept of sustainable development. The triple bottom line is increasingly salient to economic development related disciplines, yet the topic has received little attention within the field of economic development. This study offers three substantive responses to that gap. First, triple bottom line economic development is introduced and defined. Second, research regarding whether and how practitioners prioritize and engage in triple bottom line economic development is presented. Third, implications for the field are considered, including the centrality of the concept to economic development and recommendations to advance theory and practice in this regard.