Gap Analysis: Anomalies and Paradoxes, Questions, Dilemmas and Motivations

This chapter is an innovative way to expand the current theory of value formation: for both organic value creation and intentional price setting mechanisms and processes alike. It provides a link to the economic sustainability concept and, in that way, to the broader sustainable real-estate debate. To set the agenda for developing new thoughts on value, valuation and sustainability in the built environment, the chapter summarizes the argumentation. It discusses a recognised ‘gap’ between the difficulties of valuation and the competence or awareness of individuals to sort the given difficulties. The identification of ‘gaps’ meshes sustainable development laggardness, ethical issues and other problematic circumstances. The most significant gap is in the lack of political awareness in the profession about the changes in value systems that have occurred particularly over the last 30 years. This is mainly due to the impact of neo-liberal political economic thinking on ethics and knowledge