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Strong or weak sustainability: a case study of emerging Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Anamika Barua

    (Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India)

  • Bandana Khataniar

    (Research Scholar, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India)

Abstract

Sustainability can be weak or strong, depending on the nature of capital accumulation. Weak sustainability is characterized by a non-declining combined stock of capital and assumes that man-made capital can be replaced with natural capital. Strong sustainability, on the other hand, implies that natural capital cannot be replaced by any other capital. Based on this understanding, the present study analysed the growth patterns of 10 emerging Asian economies using time-series data over a 20-year period. For this purpose, the study used genuine savings as an indicator of weak sustainability and ecological footprint as an indicator of strong sustainability. The study found that the selected Asain economies, particularly the middle-income countries, are following a path of weak sustainability. While the high-income countries are gradually making an attempt, through various policy interventions, to move from a path of weak to strong sustainability, despite genuine savings having stabilized their ecological footprint per capita continues to show an increasing trend.

Suggested Citation

  • Anamika Barua & Bandana Khataniar, 2015. "Strong or weak sustainability: a case study of emerging Asia," Asia-Pacific Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 22(1), pages 1-31, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:unt:jnapdj:v:22:y:2015:i:1:p:1-31
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James A. Brander, 2007. "Viewpoint: Sustainability: Malthus revisited?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(1), pages 1-38, February.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ly Dai Hung, 2022. "Fast and Sustainable Development Space: An Integrated Approach," Journal of Asian Economic Integration, , vol. 4(1), pages 72-91, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sustainable development; weak sustainability; strong sustainability; ecological footprint; genuine savings.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P28 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Natural Resources; Environment
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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