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Potentials for prosperity without growth: Ecological sustainability, social inclusion and the quality of life in 38 countries

Fritz, Martin and Koch, Max LU (2014) In Ecological Economics 108. p.191-199
Abstract
Recent contributions to ecological economics and related social sciences indicate that issues such as climate change, resource depletion and environmental degradation cannot be effectively addressed under conditions of continued economic growth. This paper aims at empirically identifying structural potentials and policy challenges for prosperity at scaleswhere economic development remainswithin ecological carrying capacities. Building

on the growing literature that interprets prosperity ‘beyond’ economic growth, the paper presents a threedimensional

concept to operationalise prosperity in terms of ecological sustainability, social inclusion, and the quality of life. These dimensions are measured using data from sources... (More)
Recent contributions to ecological economics and related social sciences indicate that issues such as climate change, resource depletion and environmental degradation cannot be effectively addressed under conditions of continued economic growth. This paper aims at empirically identifying structural potentials and policy challenges for prosperity at scaleswhere economic development remainswithin ecological carrying capacities. Building

on the growing literature that interprets prosperity ‘beyond’ economic growth, the paper presents a threedimensional

concept to operationalise prosperity in terms of ecological sustainability, social inclusion, and the quality of life. These dimensions are measured using data from sources such as TheWorld Bank, the Global Footprint Network and the OECD. The results of cluster and correspondence analyses indicate the existence of five

‘prosperity regimes’ and demonstrate that all aspects of prosperity – including (unsatisfactory) ecological performance – are linked to economic development. However, our findings also indicate that in order to achieve a decent minimum of prosperity moderate levels of the material living standard are sufficient. Further increases in the

material living standard do not lead to significant additional prosperity; instead they cause greater environmental harms. The paper concludes by highlighting potentials for prosperity for each of the ‘prosperity regimes’ and corresponding policy challenges. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
wellbeing, social inclusion, ecological sustainability, prosperity, steady-state economy, GDP
in
Ecological Economics
volume
108
pages
191 - 199
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000347265900019
  • scopus:84910068821
ISSN
0921-8009
DOI
10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.10.021
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1c8fdc21-5d21-42b0-a666-277d96037778 (old id 4739959)
alternative location
http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1P~HA3Hb~026Lw
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:34:53
date last changed
2022-01-27 19:58:29
@article{1c8fdc21-5d21-42b0-a666-277d96037778,
  abstract     = {{Recent contributions to ecological economics and related social sciences indicate that issues such as climate change, resource depletion and environmental degradation cannot be effectively addressed under conditions of continued economic growth. This paper aims at empirically identifying structural potentials and policy challenges for prosperity at scaleswhere economic development remainswithin ecological carrying capacities. Building<br/><br>
on the growing literature that interprets prosperity ‘beyond’ economic growth, the paper presents a threedimensional<br/><br>
concept to operationalise prosperity in terms of ecological sustainability, social inclusion, and the quality of life. These dimensions are measured using data from sources such as TheWorld Bank, the Global Footprint Network and the OECD. The results of cluster and correspondence analyses indicate the existence of five<br/><br>
‘prosperity regimes’ and demonstrate that all aspects of prosperity – including (unsatisfactory) ecological performance – are linked to economic development. However, our findings also indicate that in order to achieve a decent minimum of prosperity moderate levels of the material living standard are sufficient. Further increases in the<br/><br>
material living standard do not lead to significant additional prosperity; instead they cause greater environmental harms. The paper concludes by highlighting potentials for prosperity for each of the ‘prosperity regimes’ and corresponding policy challenges.}},
  author       = {{Fritz, Martin and Koch, Max}},
  issn         = {{0921-8009}},
  keywords     = {{wellbeing; social inclusion; ecological sustainability; prosperity; steady-state economy; GDP}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{191--199}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Ecological Economics}},
  title        = {{Potentials for prosperity without growth: Ecological sustainability, social inclusion and the quality of life in 38 countries}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.10.021}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.10.021}},
  volume       = {{108}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}