Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Environmental Kuznets Curve: A Methodological Artefact?

  • Published:
Population and Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A number of recent publications claims to have demonstrated that the pattern of environmental pollution in growing economies follows an inverted parabolic curve, called the environmental Kuznets curve. It is suggested that the Kuznets curve is a logical consequence of the kind of measurement but with little meaning for future, efficiency based environmental policies. Environmental Space as an measure of environmental pressures is introduced, accounting for the total use of energy, materials and land. Based on this, the trends in overall resource consumption are described. No indication of an environmental Kuznets curve can be found for the total resource throughput in several countries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adriaanse, A. S., Bringezu, S., Hammond, A., Moriguchi, Y., Rodenburg, E., Rogich, D., & Schu¨tz, H. (1997). Resource Flows: The Material Basis of Industrial Economies. Washington,D.C.: World Resources Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agras, J., & Chapman, D. (1999). A dynamic approach to the environmental Kuznets hypothesis. Ecological Economics 28(2), 267–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayres, R. U., & Martinas, K. (1995). Waste potential entropy: the ultimate ecotoxic? Economic. Applications 48, 95–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckermann, W. (1992). Economic growth and the environment: whose growth? Whose environment? World Development, 20, 481–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bundestag, Enquete-Kommision Schutz des Menschen und der Umwelt des 13. Deutschen Bundestages, Ed. (1998). Zwischenbericht: Konzept Nachhaltigkeit. Fundamente für die Gesellschaft von morgen. Zur Sache. Bonn: Deutscher Bundestag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland, C. J., Kaufmann, R. K., & Stern, D. I. (2000). Aggregarion and the role of energy in the economy. Ecological Economics 32(299), 301–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ecological-Economics (1998). Special issue on the environmental Kuznets curve. Ecological Economics 25, 143–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekins, P. (1997). The Kuznets Curve for the Environment and Economic Growth: examining the evidence, Environment and Planning. Ecological Economics 29, 805–830.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer-Kowalski, M. (2000). Linking Resource Inputs to Outflows. The “End of Pipe”—Report on five Industrial Economies. Paper presented at the 3rd Biannual Conference of the European Society for Ecological Economics, Transitions Towards a Sustainable Europe. Ecology-Economy-Policy, Vienna.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer-Kowalski, M., & Haberl, 0H. (1997). Tons, Joules and Money: Modes of Production and Their Sustainability Problems. Society & Natural Resources (10/1997)

  • Grossmann, G., & Krueger, A. (1992). Environmental Impacts of a North American Free Trade Agreement. Princeton, N.J., USA: Woodrow Wilson School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hans-Boeckler-Foundation, Ed. (2000). Pathways to Sustainability. Duesseldorf: Hans Boeckler Foundation.

  • Hille, J. (1998). The Concept of Environmental Space. Implications for Policies, Environmental Reporting and Assessments. Luxembourg: Office for the Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinterberger, F., Omann, I., Schmitz, S., & Spangenberg, J.H. (2000). Ein ökologisch-soziales Nachhaltigkeitsszenario für Deutschland. Theoretische Grundlagen und empirische Ergebnisse. Magische Dreiecke. Berichte für eine nachhaltige Gesellschaft. S. Hartard, Stahmer, Carsten, Hinterberger, Friedrich. Marburg, Metropolis. 1. Stoffflussanalysen und Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren.

  • Hinterberger, F., Renn, S., & Schütz, H. (1999). Arbeit, Wirtschaft, Umwelt: Einige Indikatoren sozialer, wirtschaftlicher und ökologischer Entwicklung im Zeitablauf. Wuppertal Paper No. 89. Wuppertal: Wuppertal Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, A. N. (1999). Agricultural land use and economic growth: environmental implications of the Kuznets curve. International Journal of Sustainable Development 2(4), 530–553.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ja¨nicke, M., et al. (1996). The Development of “Dirty Industries” in Industrial Countries. Berlin: Edition Sigma.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jö rissen, J., Kopfmüller, J., Brandl, V., & Paetau, M. (1999). Ein Integratives Konzept nachhaltiger Entwicklung. Karlsruhe: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, J., & Slesser, M. (1994). Can the World make the transition to a sustainable economy driven by solar energy? International Journal of. Environment and Pollution 5, 14–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • List, J. A., & Gallet, C.A. (1999). The environmental Kuznets curve: does one size fit all? Ecological Economics 3(3), 409–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorek, S., & Spangenberg, J.H. (2001a). Indicators for Environmentally Sustainable Household Consumption. International Journal of Sustainable Development 4(1), 101–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorek, S., & Spangenberg, J.H. (2001b). Reichtum und Umwelt. Reichtum in Deutschland. K. Stadlinger, Rilling, R. Muenster: Westfaelisches Dampfboot: 115–128.

  • Magnani, E. (2000). The Environmental Kuznets Curve, environmental protection and income distribution. Ecological Economics 32, 431–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metzner, A. (2000). Caring Capacity and Carrying Capacity—A Social Science Perspective. Paper presented at the INES 2000 Conference: Challenges for Science and Engineering in the 21st Century, Stockholm.

  • Odum, H. T. (1996). Environmental Accounting. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (1999). Environmental Data 1999. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. E., & van der Linde, C. (1995). Towards a new conception of the environmentcompetitiveness relationship. Journal for Economic Perspectives 9(4), 97–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramos-Martin, J. (2000). Dematerialisation and the Energy Intensity of Spain. Paper presented at the 3rd Biannual Conference of the European Society for Ecological Economics, Transitions Towards a Sustainable Europe. Ecology-Economy-Policy, Vienna.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rennings, K. (2000). Redefining innovation—eco-innovation research and the contribution from ecological economics. Ecological Economics 32, 319–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt-Bleek, F. (1992). Material Flows and Eco-Restructuring. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 1, 529–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt-Bleek, F., Bringezu, S., Hinterberger, F., Liedtke, C., Spangenberg, J.H., Stiller, H., & Welfens, M. J. (1998). MAIA Einführung in die Material-Intensitäts-Analyse nach dem MIPS-Konzept. Basel/Berlin/Boston: Birkhäuser.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seppälä, T., Haukioja, T., & Kaivo-oja, J. (2000). The EKC Hypothesis Does Not Hold for Material Flows! Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis Test of Direct Material Flows in some Industrialised Countries. Paper presented at the 3rd Biannual Conference of the European Society for Ecological Economics, Transitions Towards a Sustainable Europe. Ecology-Economy-Policy, Vienna.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spangenberg, J.H., Ed. (1995). Towards Sustainable Europe. A Study from the Wuppertal Institute for Friends of the Earth Europe. Luton/Brussels: FoE Publ.

  • Spangenberg, J.H., Femia, A., Hinterberger, F., & Schütz, H. (1999a). Material Flow-based Indicators in Environmental Reporting. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spangenberg, J.H., Omann, I., & Hinterberger, F. (1999b). Sustainability, growth and employment in an alternative economic policy. Theory, policy and scenarios for employment and the environment. Paper presented at the 5th Workshop on alternative economic concepts for Europe, Brussels.

  • Spangenberg, J.H., Omann, I., Bockermann, A., & Meyer, B. (2001). Modelling Sustainability—European and German Approaches. Integrative Systems Approaches to Natural and Social Dynamics. Systems Science 2000, Osnabru¨ck,SpringerVerlag Berlin/New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spangenberg, J.H., Pfahl, S., & Deller, K. (1999c). Institutions for Sustainable Development—Lessons from an analysis of Agenda 21. INDEX 99—Indicators and Indices of Sustainable Development, St. Petersburg, EOLSS Publ., London, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spangenberg, J.H., & Scharnagl, A. (1998). Modelling Sustainable Europe. Wuppertal Paper No. 92. Wuppertal: Wuppertal Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolba, M. K. & El-Kholy, O.A. On behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme, Ed. (1992). The World Environment, 1972–1992. Two decades of challenge. London: Chapman&Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDESA, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (1998). Measuring Changes in Consumption and Production Patterns. A Set of Indicators. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDPCSD, Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable Development (1996). Indicators of Sustainable Development, Framework and Methodologies. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP, United Nations Environment Programme, Ed. (1982). The World Environment, 1972– 1982. Dublin: Tycooly International Publ.

    Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Energy (1997). Annual Energy Review. Washington DC: US Department of Energy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verheyen, R., & Spangenberg, J.H. (1998). Die Praxis der Kreislaufwirtschaft. Ergebnisse des Kreislaufwirtschaft-und Abfallgesetzes. Bonn: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weterings, R., & Opschoor, J.B. (1994). Towards Environmental Performance Indicators based on the Notion of Environmental Space. Rijswijk: RMNO.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cologne Office, SERI—Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Grosse Telegraphenstr. 1, D 50676, Cologne, Germany

    Joachim H. Spangenberg

Authors
  1. Joachim H. Spangenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spangenberg, J.H. The Environmental Kuznets Curve: A Methodological Artefact?. Population and Environment 23, 175–191 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012827703885

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012827703885

Search

Navigation