Understanding the time dimension in resource management

Purpose - The paper's aim is to present a concrete approach of understanding economic time and how acceleration might be controlled based on the application of operation logics of social systems. Design/methodology/ approach - Following the reasoning of an indicator that reflects acceleration/deceleration in the economic system and based on the economy's operation logic, a correlation analysis has been undertaken where interest rate and inflation rate statistics from Sweden, Finland and Russia are combined with statistics of roundwood logging from the three countries. Findings - Analysis shows that a confiding environment of the economic system is needed for the control measure to work. Furthermore, given that for complex systems control is limited, not only the question whether control is possible is important but also whether this possibility is probable. Practical implications - Informs policy makers about the need to maintain a confiding and trustful environment for the economic system to maintain control possibilities. Originality/value - The paper contributes to the research on the management of time and acceleration, the management of the economic system in general and the wider sustainable development discourse.