---
entity_slug: economic_system_sustainability
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:21:21.427046'
overall_score: 3.0
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition captures a coherent concept about long-term viability
    of economic systems, but uses somewhat vague terms like "effectiveness" and "desired
    outcomes" without specifying what these mean. The core idea of maintaining operations
    without depleting foundational resources is reasonably precise.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 2.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity acknowledges that sustainability is "not explicitly discussed
    by Smith" and is only "implied" in his discussion of systems enriching people
    and sovereigns. This represents a significant conceptual leap from what Smith
    actually wrote, introducing modern sustainability frameworks onto 18th-century
    economic theory.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"General Theory" is appropriate since this concept would span across
    multiple economic domains rather than belonging to a specific area like trade
    policy or taxation. The broad theoretical nature of sustainability as a systemic
    property fits well in this domain.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to VSM System 5 (identity/policy) as it concerns
    the fundamental viability and continuity of the entire economic system. It also
    has relevance to S4 (environmental adaptation) regarding how systems maintain
    themselves amid changing conditions.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 2.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: While sustainability is an important modern concept, this entity doesn't
    illuminate specific mechanisms or structural relations that Smith described. It
    functions more as a modern analytical overlay than as an explanation of how Smith's
    economic systems actually operate.
---

# Evaluation: Economic System Sustainability

## definition_precision — 3.0 / 5.0

The definition captures a coherent concept about long-term viability of economic systems, but uses somewhat vague terms like "effectiveness" and "desired outcomes" without specifying what these mean. The core idea of maintaining operations without depleting foundational resources is reasonably precise.

## source_grounding — 2.0 / 5.0

The entity acknowledges that sustainability is "not explicitly discussed by Smith" and is only "implied" in his discussion of systems enriching people and sovereigns. This represents a significant conceptual leap from what Smith actually wrote, introducing modern sustainability frameworks onto 18th-century economic theory.

## domain_placement — 4.0 / 5.0

"General Theory" is appropriate since this concept would span across multiple economic domains rather than belonging to a specific area like trade policy or taxation. The broad theoretical nature of sustainability as a systemic property fits well in this domain.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to VSM System 5 (identity/policy) as it concerns the fundamental viability and continuity of the entire economic system. It also has relevance to S4 (environmental adaptation) regarding how systems maintain themselves amid changing conditions.

## explanatory_value — 2.0 / 5.0

While sustainability is an important modern concept, this entity doesn't illuminate specific mechanisms or structural relations that Smith described. It functions more as a modern analytical overlay than as an explanation of how Smith's economic systems actually operate.
