Public attitudes toward economic growth versus environmental sustainability dilemma: Evidence from Europe

2021 ◽  
pp. 002071522110342
Author(s):  
Dimitri Gugushvili
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Environmental Sociology ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Social Legitimacy ◽  
Country Level ◽  
European Values ◽  
Environmental Measures

As global warming and other environmental threats intensify and become more visible, scientists are increasingly questioning the desirability of economic growth as an overarching national and global policy imperative. Several theories in environmental sociology and economics—degrowth, steady-state economy, and “agrowth”—offer compelling arguments that environmental sustainability and continuous economic growth are incompatible. However, there is a shortage of empirical evidence about public opinion on the growth versus environment dilemma, despite its great relevance for the social legitimacy of governments’ approach to the issue. In this article, we aim to narrow this research gap by applying multilevel models to data from the 2017 European Values Study (EVS). We find that the idea of sacrificing a certain level of growth for the sake of the environment receives high levels of support in most European countries. Nevertheless, within countries, we find clear indications of social divides in opinions regarding the growth versus environment dilemma: post-materialists, politically left-leaning people, the better-off, and the higher-educated are in favor of reduced growth, whereas materialists, right-wing individuals, and disadvantaged groups prioritize the economy over ecological concerns. At the country level, economic affluence is associated with greater support for reduced growth, irrespective of the differences in post-materialist values and the ecological situation. In practical terms, our results suggest that politicians can be bolder in promoting substantive environmental measures, even those that reduce growth.

Assessing social sustainability in the gig economy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muralidharan Loganathan
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Social Sustainability ◽  
Decent Work ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
The World ◽  
Sustainable Economic Growth

Sustainable Development Goal 8 to “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” necessitates country level measures across the world. We take forward a comparative analysis of India’s SDG 8 indicator list with both the UN and ILO measurements. We note inadequate measurements on social-protection and rights for non-standard forms of employment including gig work, that are intermediated by ICT platforms. From our analysis we identify some levers to broaden the current indicator measurements to include these non-standard workers as well, to improve social sustainability.

What’s Next for a National Infrastructure Policy: An Encore or a Requiem?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1087724X2110146
Author(s):  
Richard G. Little
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Infrastructure Systems ◽  
Infrastructure Policy ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
The Many ◽  
National Infrastructure ◽  
Roll Out

In an essay almost 30 years ago, Professor Dick Netzer of NYU asked the question “Do We Really Need a National Infrastructure Policy?” and came to the conclusion that we did not. As the Biden Administration prepares to roll out a multi-trillion dollar infrastructure package, the nation is faced with numerous questions regarding the infrastructure systems necessary to support continued economic growth and environmental sustainability. The purpose of this essay is to look to recent history for guidance for how to proceed by revisiting the underlying premises of the Netzer essay and reconsider whether a National Infrastructure Policy is needed. Because linking infrastructure to broader public policy objectives could both unite the nation and position it to address the many challenges that the 21st century will present, I believe the idea of a National Infrastructure Policy definitely deserves a second look.

scholarly journals Does Green Energy Complement Economic Growth for Achieving Environmental Sustainability? Evidence from Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Montassar Kahia ◽  
Anis Omri ◽  
Bilel Jarraya
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Ekc Hypothesis ◽  
Renewable Energy Consumption ◽  
Ordinary Least Square

This study extends previous environmental sustainability literature by investigating the joint impact of economic growth and renewable energy on reducing CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia over the period 1990–2016. Using the fully modified ordinary least-square (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least-square DOLS estimators, we find that economic growth increases CO2 emissions in all estimated models. Moreover, the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis is only supported for CO2 emissions from liquid fuel consumption. The invalidity of the EKC hypothesis in the most commonly used models implies that economic growth alone is not sufficient to enhance environmental quality. Renewable energy is found to have a weak influence on reducing the indicators of environmental degradation. We also find that the joint impact of renewable energy consumption and economic growth on the indicators of CO2 emissions is negative and insignificant for all the estimated models, meaning that the level of renewable energy consumption in Saudi Arabia is not sufficient to moderate the negative effect of economic growth on environmental quality. Implications for policy are also discussed.

scholarly journals Country-level structural stigma, identity concealment, and day-to-day discrimination as determinants of transgender people’s life satisfaction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Bränström ◽  
John E. Pachankis
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Transgender People ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Identity Concealment ◽  
Population Attitudes ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Lower Life Satisfaction ◽  
Negative Population

Abstract Purpose Discriminatory laws, policies, and population attitudes, surrounding transgender people vary greatly across countries, from equal protection under the law and full acceptance to lack of legal recognition and open bias. The consequences of this substantial between-country variation on transgender people’s health and well-being is poorly understood. We therefore examined the association between structural stigma and transgender people’s life satisfaction across 28 countries. Methods Data from transgender participants (n = 6771) in the 2012 EU-LGBT-survey regarding identity concealment, day-to-day discrimination, and life satisfaction were assessed. Structural stigma was measured using publicly available data regarding each country’s discriminatory laws, policies, and population attitudes towards transgender people. Results Multilevel models showed that country-level structural stigma was associated with lower life satisfaction, an association largely explained by higher levels of identity concealment in higher-structural-stigma countries. Yet identity concealment was also associated with lower day-to-day discrimination and therefore protected against even lower life satisfaction. Conclusion The results emphasize the importance of changing discriminatory legislation and negative population attitudes to improve transgender people’s life satisfaction, and also highlight targets for intervention at interpersonal and individual levels.

scholarly journals Dominance of Fossil Fuels in Japan’s National Energy Mix and Implications for Environmental Sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7347
Author(s):  
Tomiwa Sunday Adebayo ◽  
Abraham Ayobamiji Awosusi ◽  
Seun Damola Oladipupo ◽  
Ephraim Bonah Agyekum ◽  
Arunkumar Jayakumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
Gas Oil ◽  
Energy Mix ◽  
Ordinary Least Square

Despite the drive for increased environmental protection and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), coal, oil, and natural gas use continues to dominate Japan’s energy mix. In light of this issue, this research assessed the position of natural gas, oil, and coal energy use in Japan’s environmental mitigation efforts from the perspective of sustainable development with respect to economic growth between 1965 and 2019. In this regard, the study employs Bayer and Hanck cointegration, fully modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS), and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) to investigate these interconnections. The empirical findings from this study revealed that the utilization of natural gas, oil, and coal energy reduces the sustainability of the environment with oil consumption having the most significant impact. Furthermore, the study validates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in Japan. The outcomes of the Gradual shift causality showed that CO2 emissions can predict economic growth, while oil, coal, and energy consumption can predict CO2 emissions in Japan. Given Japan’s ongoing energy crisis, this innovative analysis provides valuable policy insights to stakeholders and authorities in the nation’s energy sector.

scholarly journals Mining Industry Impact on Environmental Sustainability, Economic Growth, Social Interaction, and Public Health: An Application of Semi-Quantitative Mathematical Approach

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 972
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mohsin ◽  
Qiang Zhu ◽  
Sobia Naseem ◽  
Muddassar Sarfraz ◽  
Larisa Ivascu
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Energy Source ◽  
Coal Mining ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
The Government ◽  
Operational Activities

The mining industry plays a significant role in economic growth and development. Coal is a viable renewable energy source with 185.175 billion deposits in Thar, which has not been deeply explored. Although coal is an energy source and contributes to economic development, it puts pressure on environmental sustainability. The current study investigates Sindh Engro coal mining’s impact on environmental sustainability and human needs and interest. The Folchi and Phillips Environmental Sustainability Mathematics models are employed to measure environmental sustainability. The research findings demonstrated that Sindh Engro coal mining is potentially unsustainable for the environment. The toxic gases (methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur, etc.) are released during operational activities. The four significant environment spheres (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere) are negatively influenced by Thar coal mining. The second part of the analysis results shows that human needs and interests have a positive and significant relationship except for human health and safety with Sindh Engro coal mining. Environmental pollution can be controlled by utilizing environmentally friendly coal mining operations and technologies. Plantation and ecological normalization can protect the species, flora, and fauna of the Thar Desert. The government of Pakistan and the provincial government of Sind should strictly check the adaptation of environmental standards. Furthermore, the researchers should explore the environmental issues and solutions so that coal mining becomes a cost-efficient and environmental-friendly energy source in Pakistan.

scholarly journals Liquidity Synchronization, Its Determinants and Outcomes under Economic Growth Volatility: Evidence from Emerging Asian Economies

Risks ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Syeda Hina Zaidi ◽  
Ramona Rupeika-Apoga
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Market Index ◽  
High Inflation ◽  
Asian Emerging Markets ◽  
Growth Volatility

This study investigates the country-level determinants of liquidity synchronization and degrees of liquidity synchronization during economic growth volatility. As a non-diversifiable risk factor, liquidity co-movement shock spreads market-wide and thus disrupts the overall functioning of the financial market. Firms in Asian markets operate in legal and regulatory environments distinct from those of firms analyzed in the previous literature. Comprehensive analyses of liquidity synchronicity in emerging markets are limited. A major knowledge gap pertaining to Asian emerging markets serves as the primary motivation for this study. Seven Asian emerging economies are selected from the MSCI emerging market index: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and the Philippines for analysis from 2010 to 2019. The empirical findings show high levels of liquidity synchronicity in weaker economic and financial environments with low GDP growth, high inflation and interest rates and underdeveloped financial systems taking the form of low levels of private credit. Liquidity synchronicity is also affected by poor investor protection, political instability, weak rule of law and government ineffectiveness. Moreover, levels of liquidity synchronicity are higher in a period of economic growth volatility.

Does Technological Innovation Advance Environmental Sustainability in ASEAN Countries?

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabish Nawab ◽  
Muhammad Azhar Bhatti ◽  
Muhammad Atif Nawaz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
Technology Innovation ◽  
Renewable Energy Consumption ◽  
Panel Ardl ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Environment Degradation

Environment degradation is a very important issue in developing nations and a lot of research had done to examine the factors of environmental degradation but these studies were missed some important factors which are covered by this study. By examining the effect of economic growth and energy in the presence of renewable energy consumption and technology innovation on environment degradation for ASEAN nations. Panel ARDL (which is PMG and MG) is used to estimate the model, and the advantage of this model is it gives both the long and short-run estimates of the model which helps to understand the situation in both short as well as long run. The results confirm that economic growth, Population, trade, and renewable energy increase the carbon emission level in ASEAN nations. While technology innovation decreased carbon emission levels which means technology innovation helps to keep the environment healthy and clean. Hence, economic growth helps the nations to improve their energy mode from non-renewable to renewable energy, which meets the energy demand by keeping the environment clean.

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