Economic Indicators
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Traditional Indicators
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Sustainability Indicators
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Emphasis of
Sustainability Indicators
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Median income
Per capita income relative to the U.S. average
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Number of hours of paid employment at the average wage required to support basic needs
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What wage can buy
Defines basic needs in terms of sustainable consumption
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Unemployment rate
Number of companies
Number of jobs
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Diversity and vitality of local job base
Number and variability in size of companies
Number and variability of industry types
Variability of skill levels required for jobs
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Resilience of the job market
Ability of the job market to be flexible in times of economic change
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Size of the economy as measured by GNP and GDP
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Wages paid in the local economy that are spent in the local economy
Dollars spent in the local economy which pay for local labor and local natural resources
Percent of local economy based on renewable local resources
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Local financial resilience
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Environmental Indicators
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Traditional Indicators
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Sustainability Indicators
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Emphasis of
Sustainability Indicators
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Ambient levels of pollution in air and water
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Use and generation of toxic materials (both in production and by end user)
Vehicle miles traveled
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Measuring activities causing pollution
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Tons of solid waste generated
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Percent of products produced which are durable, repairable, or readily recyclable or compostable
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Conservative and cyclical use of materials
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Cost of fuel
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Total energy used from all sources
Ratio of renewable energy used at renewable rate compared to nonrenewable energy
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Use of resources at sustainable rate
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Social Indicators
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Traditional Indicators
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Sustainability Indicators
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Emphasis of
Sustainability Indicators
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SAT and other standardized test scores
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Number of students trained for jobs that are available in the local economy
Number of students who go to college and come back to the community
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Matching job skills and training to needs of the local economy
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Number of registered voters
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Number of voters who vote in elections
Number of voters who attend town meetings
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Participation in democratic process
Ability to participate in the democratic process
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