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What do Canadians think about economic growth, prosperity and the environment?

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  • Tomaselli, Maria Fernanda
  • Sheppard, Stephen R.J.
  • Kozak, Robert
  • Gifford, Robert

Abstract

This study examines public opinions about economic growth, prosperity and the environment, and segments the sample based on some of these attitudes. A sample of 1001 Canadians participated in an online survey in January 2016. Data shows that economic growth is received with positive reactions, although very few participants strongly agreed with the notion of ‘growth at all costs’. Moreover, many were unsure about the balance of benefits and costs of growth. A vast majority of the respondents agreed with reducing consumption, pointing to a potentially high level of support for post-growth tenets and other post-materialistic proposals. Three distinct segments were identified using Latent Class Analysis (LCA). The Assured (41.1%) expressed optimism towards technology and indefinite economic growth. The Ambivalent (36.3%) did not express strong opinions about any issue. The Concerned (22.6%) acknowledged human unsustainability, expressed higher environmental concern and did not believe in indefinite growth. Demographic factors (e.g., gender, political identification) correlated significantly with the clusters, and members of the Concerned reported a higher likelihood to vote for a politician who does not pursue economic growth as a main policy goal. The findings of this study question the assumed ‘social consensus’ around growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomaselli, Maria Fernanda & Sheppard, Stephen R.J. & Kozak, Robert & Gifford, Robert, 2019. "What do Canadians think about economic growth, prosperity and the environment?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 41-49.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:161:y:2019:i:c:p:41-49
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.03.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. van den Bergh, Jeroen, 2023. "Climate policy versus growth concerns: Suggestions for economic research and communication," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
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    4. Babajide Samuel & Oyedotun Temitope D. Timothy & Oderinde Olayinka & Oguntoke Olusegun & Babajide Emmanuel, 2020. "Evaluation Of The Impacts Of Metals On Soil Samples, Serum Creatinine And Blood Urea Nitrogen Of Residents In Selected Industrial Communities In A Developing Country," Environmental Contaminants Reviews (ECR), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 3(1), pages 40-47, September.
    5. Savin, Ivan & Drews, Stefan & van den Bergh, Jeroen, 2021. "GEM: A short “Growth-vs-Environment” Module for survey research," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    6. Tomaselli, Maria Fernanda & Kozak, Robert & Gifford, Robert & Sheppard, Stephen R.J., 2021. "Degrowth or Not Degrowth: The Importance of Message Frames for Characterizing the New Economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    7. Savin, Ivan & Drews, Stefan & van den Bergh, Jeroen, 2021. "Free associations of citizens and scientists with economic and green growth: A computational-linguistics analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    8. Koskimäki, Teemu, 2023. "Targeting socioeconomic transformations to achieve global sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).

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