Human Development and Crisis Management: The 1:3 Imbalance Paradigm
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##
Published
Aug 25, 2025
Abstract
Human civilization progresses through innovation, culture, and social organization, yet its trajectory is rarely linear or evenly paced. Across history, the energy and resources required to manage crises—ranging from pandemics, wars, environmental disasters, to plastic and pollution management—have consistently outstripped the effort devoted to steady development. This imbalance can be conceptualized as a “1:3 model”: for every unit of progress, three units of effort are consumed in crisis response. This paradigm highlights both structural vulnerabilities and adaptive strengths of humanity, emphasizing the need for proactive strategies that shift the balance toward sustainable development. By analyzing historical examples, systemic causes, modern environmental crises, ethical dimensions, and potential future interventions, I explore how the 1:3 imbalance shapes societies and the implications for governance, technology, and global cooperation.
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Keywords
Human Development, Crisis Management, 1:3 Paradigm, Future Interventions, History
Supporting Agencies
No funding source declared.
References
Affan, F. B. (2017). Earth Summit: from Rio 1992 via Kyoto and Copenhagen, back to Rio 2012. Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography, 07(01). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7625.1000229
Alfani, G. (2022). Epidemics, inequality, and poverty in preindustrial and early industrial times. Journal of Economic Literature, 60(1), 3–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20201640
Balwada, J., Samaiya, S., & Mishra, R. P. (2021). Packaging Plastic Waste Management for a Circular Economy and Identifying a better Waste Collection System using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Procedia CIRP, 98, 270–275. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2021.01.102
Buxel, H., Esenduran, G., & Griffin, S. (2014). Strategic sustainability: Creating business value with life cycle analysis. Business Horizons, 58(1), 109–122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2014.09.004
Chen, L., Chen, Z., Zhang, Y., Liu, Y., Osman, A. I., Farghali, M., Hua, J., Al-Fatesh, A., Ihara, I., Rooney, D. W., & Yap, P. (2023). Artificial intelligence-based solutions for climate change: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 21(5), 2525–2557. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01617-y
Curti, F., Ergen, I., Le, M., Migueis, M., & Stewart, R. (2016). Benchmarking operational risk models. Finance and Economics Discussion Series, 2016(070), 1–26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17016/feds.2016.070
Ezzahid, E., Firano, Z., Ennouhi, J., Laaroussi, A., & Anbari, A. S. (2022). Countries’ readiness to deal with large-scale crises: analysis, measure, and World classification. Policy Sciences, 55(3), 555–572. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-022-09464-4
Ford, H. V., Jones, N. H., Davies, A. J., Godley, B. J., Jambeck, J. R., Napper, I. E., Suckling, C. C., Williams, G. J., Woodall, L. C., & Koldewey, H. J. (2021). The fundamental links between climate change and marine plastic pollution. The Science of the Total Environment, 806, 150392. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150392
González, J. J. L., & Fernández-Vilas, E. (2024). The social evolution of COVID-19: pandemics as total social facts. Frontiers in Sociology, 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1397826
Hanvoravongchai, P., Adisasmito, W., Chau, P. N., Conseil, A., De Sa, J., Krumkamp, R., Mounier-Jack, S., Phommasack, B., Putthasri, W., Shih, C., Touch, S., & Coker, R. (2010). Pandemic influenza preparedness and health systems challenges in Asia: results from rapid analyses in 6 Asian countries. BMC Public Health, 10(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-322
Hira, A., Pacini, H., Attafuah-Wadee, K., Vivas-Eugui, D., Saltzberg, M., & Yeoh, T. N. (2022). Plastic Waste Mitigation Strategies: A Review of Lessons from Developing Countries. Journal of Developing Societies, 38(3), 336–359. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0169796x221104855
Iroegbu, A. O. C., Ray, S. S., Mbarane, V., Bordado, J. C., & Sardinha, J. P. (2021). Plastic Pollution: A perspective on matters arising: Challenges and opportunities. ACS Omega, 6(30), 19343–19355. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c02760
Itsukushima, R., Ohtsuki, K., & Sato, T. (2019). Influence of microtopography and alluvial lowland characteristics on location and development of residential areas in the Kuji River basin of Japan. Sustainability, 12(1), 65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010065
Karasik, R., Lauer, N. E., Baker, A., Lisi, N. E., Somarelli, J. A., Eward, W. C., Fürst, K., & Dunphy-Daly, M. M. (2023). Inequitable distribution of plastic benefits and burdens on economies and public health. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1017247
Khadke, S., Gupta, P., Rachakunta, S., Mahata, C., Dawn, S., Sharma, M., Verma, D., Pradhan, A., Krishna, A. M. S., Ramakrishna, S., Chakrabortty, S., Saianand, G., Sonar, P., Biring, S., Dash, J. K., & Dalapati, G. K. (2021). Efficient plastic recycling and remolding circular economy using the technology of Trust–Blockchain. Sustainability, 13(16), 9142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169142
Kim, Y., Poncelet, J., Min, G., Lee, J., & Yang, Y. (2021). COVID-19: Systemic risk and response management in the Republic of Korea. Progress in Disaster Science, 12, 100200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2021.100200
Kuo, T., Hsu, N., Wattimena, R., Hong, I., Chao, C., & Herlianto, J. (2021). Toward a circular economy: A system dynamic model of recycling framework for aseptic paper packaging waste in Indonesia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 301, 126901. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126901
Lee, S. M., & Lee, D. (2020). Lessons Learned from Battling COVID-19: The Korean Experience. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(20), 7548. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207548
Macheca, A. D., Mutuma, B., Adalima, J. L., Midheme, E., Lúcas, L. H. M., Ochanda, V. K., & Mhlanga, S. D. (2024). Perspectives on plastic waste management: challenges and possible solutions to ensure its sustainable use. Recycling, 9(5), 77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling9050077
Mees, H., Crabbé, A., Alexander, M., Kaufmann, M., Bruzzone, S., Lévy, L., & Lewandowski, J. (2016). Coproducing flood risk management through citizen involvement: insights from cross-country comparison in Europe. Ecology and Society, 21(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5751/es-08500-210307
Morrison, E., Shipman, A., Shrestha, S., Squier, E., & Whitney, K. S. (2019). Evaluating the Ocean Cleanup, a marine debris removal project in the North Pacific Gyre, using SWOT analysis. Case Studies in the Environment, 3(1), 1–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/cse.2018.001875
Moshkal, M., Akhapov, Y., & Ogihara, A. (2024). Sustainable waste management in Japan: Challenges, achievements, and Future Prospects: a review. Sustainability, 16(17), 7347. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177347
Olawade, D. B., Wada, O. J., David-Olawade, A. C., Kunonga, E., Abaire, O., & Ling, J. (2023). Using artificial intelligence to improve public health: a narrative review. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1196397
Perry, W. J. (2004). Military technology: an historical perspective. Technology in Society, 26(2–3), 235–243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2004.01.035
Rufí-Salís, M., Petit-Boix, A., Villalba, G., Gabarrell, X., & Leipold, S. (2020). Combining LCA and circularity assessments in complex production systems: the case of urban agriculture. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 166, 105359. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105359
Sambas, M., Saputro, G. E., Hermanto, D., & Rizqiah, K. (2024). The impact of the arms race on the economic growth of the United States and Russia. International Journal of Humanities Education and Social Sciences (IJHESS), 3(6). DOI: https://doi.org/10.55227/ijhess.v3i6.965
Sommer, S. A., & Pearson, C. M. (2010). Infusing creativity into crisis management. Organizational Dynamics, 40(1), 27–33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2010.10.008
Stern, A. M., Cetron, M. S., & Markel, H. (2010). The 1918–1919 influenza pandemic in the United States: lessons learned and challenges exposed. Public Health Reports, 125(3_suppl), 6–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00333549101250s303
Svenskt Näringsliv. (2024, March 8). How can Sweden become more circular? Policy instruments and measures for increasing resource efficiency. https://www.svensktnaringsliv.se/english/how-can-sweden-become-more-circular-policy-instruments-and-measur_1207842.html
Van Doorn-Hoekveld, W. J., Gilissen, H. K., Groothuijse, F. a. G., & Van Rijswick, H. F. M. W. (2022). Adaptation to climate change in Dutch flood risk management: Innovative approaches and related challenges. Utrecht Law Review, 18(2), 51–69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36633/ulr.860
Zhelyazkova, A., Fischer, P. M., Thies, N., Schrader-Reichling, J. S., Kohlmann, T., Adorjan, K., Huith, R., Jauch, K., & Prückner, S. M. (2022). COVID-19 management at one of the largest hospitals in Germany: Concept, evaluation and adaptation. Health Services Management Research, 36(1), 63–74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09514848221100752
Alfani, G. (2022). Epidemics, inequality, and poverty in preindustrial and early industrial times. Journal of Economic Literature, 60(1), 3–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20201640
Balwada, J., Samaiya, S., & Mishra, R. P. (2021). Packaging Plastic Waste Management for a Circular Economy and Identifying a better Waste Collection System using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Procedia CIRP, 98, 270–275. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2021.01.102
Buxel, H., Esenduran, G., & Griffin, S. (2014). Strategic sustainability: Creating business value with life cycle analysis. Business Horizons, 58(1), 109–122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2014.09.004
Chen, L., Chen, Z., Zhang, Y., Liu, Y., Osman, A. I., Farghali, M., Hua, J., Al-Fatesh, A., Ihara, I., Rooney, D. W., & Yap, P. (2023). Artificial intelligence-based solutions for climate change: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 21(5), 2525–2557. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01617-y
Curti, F., Ergen, I., Le, M., Migueis, M., & Stewart, R. (2016). Benchmarking operational risk models. Finance and Economics Discussion Series, 2016(070), 1–26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17016/feds.2016.070
Ezzahid, E., Firano, Z., Ennouhi, J., Laaroussi, A., & Anbari, A. S. (2022). Countries’ readiness to deal with large-scale crises: analysis, measure, and World classification. Policy Sciences, 55(3), 555–572. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-022-09464-4
Ford, H. V., Jones, N. H., Davies, A. J., Godley, B. J., Jambeck, J. R., Napper, I. E., Suckling, C. C., Williams, G. J., Woodall, L. C., & Koldewey, H. J. (2021). The fundamental links between climate change and marine plastic pollution. The Science of the Total Environment, 806, 150392. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150392
González, J. J. L., & Fernández-Vilas, E. (2024). The social evolution of COVID-19: pandemics as total social facts. Frontiers in Sociology, 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1397826
Hanvoravongchai, P., Adisasmito, W., Chau, P. N., Conseil, A., De Sa, J., Krumkamp, R., Mounier-Jack, S., Phommasack, B., Putthasri, W., Shih, C., Touch, S., & Coker, R. (2010). Pandemic influenza preparedness and health systems challenges in Asia: results from rapid analyses in 6 Asian countries. BMC Public Health, 10(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-322
Hira, A., Pacini, H., Attafuah-Wadee, K., Vivas-Eugui, D., Saltzberg, M., & Yeoh, T. N. (2022). Plastic Waste Mitigation Strategies: A Review of Lessons from Developing Countries. Journal of Developing Societies, 38(3), 336–359. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0169796x221104855
Iroegbu, A. O. C., Ray, S. S., Mbarane, V., Bordado, J. C., & Sardinha, J. P. (2021). Plastic Pollution: A perspective on matters arising: Challenges and opportunities. ACS Omega, 6(30), 19343–19355. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c02760
Itsukushima, R., Ohtsuki, K., & Sato, T. (2019). Influence of microtopography and alluvial lowland characteristics on location and development of residential areas in the Kuji River basin of Japan. Sustainability, 12(1), 65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010065
Karasik, R., Lauer, N. E., Baker, A., Lisi, N. E., Somarelli, J. A., Eward, W. C., Fürst, K., & Dunphy-Daly, M. M. (2023). Inequitable distribution of plastic benefits and burdens on economies and public health. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1017247
Khadke, S., Gupta, P., Rachakunta, S., Mahata, C., Dawn, S., Sharma, M., Verma, D., Pradhan, A., Krishna, A. M. S., Ramakrishna, S., Chakrabortty, S., Saianand, G., Sonar, P., Biring, S., Dash, J. K., & Dalapati, G. K. (2021). Efficient plastic recycling and remolding circular economy using the technology of Trust–Blockchain. Sustainability, 13(16), 9142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169142
Kim, Y., Poncelet, J., Min, G., Lee, J., & Yang, Y. (2021). COVID-19: Systemic risk and response management in the Republic of Korea. Progress in Disaster Science, 12, 100200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2021.100200
Kuo, T., Hsu, N., Wattimena, R., Hong, I., Chao, C., & Herlianto, J. (2021). Toward a circular economy: A system dynamic model of recycling framework for aseptic paper packaging waste in Indonesia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 301, 126901. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126901
Lee, S. M., & Lee, D. (2020). Lessons Learned from Battling COVID-19: The Korean Experience. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(20), 7548. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207548
Macheca, A. D., Mutuma, B., Adalima, J. L., Midheme, E., Lúcas, L. H. M., Ochanda, V. K., & Mhlanga, S. D. (2024). Perspectives on plastic waste management: challenges and possible solutions to ensure its sustainable use. Recycling, 9(5), 77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling9050077
Mees, H., Crabbé, A., Alexander, M., Kaufmann, M., Bruzzone, S., Lévy, L., & Lewandowski, J. (2016). Coproducing flood risk management through citizen involvement: insights from cross-country comparison in Europe. Ecology and Society, 21(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5751/es-08500-210307
Morrison, E., Shipman, A., Shrestha, S., Squier, E., & Whitney, K. S. (2019). Evaluating the Ocean Cleanup, a marine debris removal project in the North Pacific Gyre, using SWOT analysis. Case Studies in the Environment, 3(1), 1–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/cse.2018.001875
Moshkal, M., Akhapov, Y., & Ogihara, A. (2024). Sustainable waste management in Japan: Challenges, achievements, and Future Prospects: a review. Sustainability, 16(17), 7347. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177347
Olawade, D. B., Wada, O. J., David-Olawade, A. C., Kunonga, E., Abaire, O., & Ling, J. (2023). Using artificial intelligence to improve public health: a narrative review. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1196397
Perry, W. J. (2004). Military technology: an historical perspective. Technology in Society, 26(2–3), 235–243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2004.01.035
Rufí-Salís, M., Petit-Boix, A., Villalba, G., Gabarrell, X., & Leipold, S. (2020). Combining LCA and circularity assessments in complex production systems: the case of urban agriculture. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 166, 105359. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105359
Sambas, M., Saputro, G. E., Hermanto, D., & Rizqiah, K. (2024). The impact of the arms race on the economic growth of the United States and Russia. International Journal of Humanities Education and Social Sciences (IJHESS), 3(6). DOI: https://doi.org/10.55227/ijhess.v3i6.965
Sommer, S. A., & Pearson, C. M. (2010). Infusing creativity into crisis management. Organizational Dynamics, 40(1), 27–33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2010.10.008
Stern, A. M., Cetron, M. S., & Markel, H. (2010). The 1918–1919 influenza pandemic in the United States: lessons learned and challenges exposed. Public Health Reports, 125(3_suppl), 6–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00333549101250s303
Svenskt Näringsliv. (2024, March 8). How can Sweden become more circular? Policy instruments and measures for increasing resource efficiency. https://www.svensktnaringsliv.se/english/how-can-sweden-become-more-circular-policy-instruments-and-measur_1207842.html
Van Doorn-Hoekveld, W. J., Gilissen, H. K., Groothuijse, F. a. G., & Van Rijswick, H. F. M. W. (2022). Adaptation to climate change in Dutch flood risk management: Innovative approaches and related challenges. Utrecht Law Review, 18(2), 51–69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36633/ulr.860
Zhelyazkova, A., Fischer, P. M., Thies, N., Schrader-Reichling, J. S., Kohlmann, T., Adorjan, K., Huith, R., Jauch, K., & Prückner, S. M. (2022). COVID-19 management at one of the largest hospitals in Germany: Concept, evaluation and adaptation. Health Services Management Research, 36(1), 63–74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09514848221100752
How to Cite
Haruto, S. (2025). Human Development and Crisis Management: The 1:3 Imbalance Paradigm. Science Insights, 47(2), 1919–1927. https://doi.org/10.15354/si.25.vw006
Issue
Section
View
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.