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The Kindergarten Rule of Sustainable Growth

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  • William A. Brock
  • M. Scott Taylor

Abstract

The relationship between economic growth and the environment is not well understood: we have only limited understanding of the basic science involved and very limited data. Because of these difficulties it is especially important to develop a series of relatively simple theoretical models that generate stark predictions. This paper presents one such model where societies implement the Kindergarten rule of sustainable growth.' Following the Kindergarten rule means implementing zero emission technologies in either finite time or asymptotically. The underlying simplicity of the model allows us to provide new predictions linking the path of environmental quality to pollutant characteristics (stocks vs. flows; toxics vs. irritants) and primitives of the economic system. It also provides a novel Environmental Catch-up Hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • William A. Brock & M. Scott Taylor, 2003. "The Kindergarten Rule of Sustainable Growth," NBER Working Papers 9597, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:9597
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    Cited by:

    1. Brian R. Copeland & M. Scott Taylor, 2004. "Trade, Growth, and the Environment," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 42(1), pages 7-71, March.
    2. Valeria Costantini & Chiara Martini, 2010. "A Modified Environmental Kuznets Curve for sustainable development assessment using panel data," International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(1/2), pages 84-122.
    3. William Brock & M. Taylor, 2010. "The Green Solow model," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 127-153, June.
    4. Kwaku Addai & Sema Yılmaz Genç & Rui Alexandre Castanho & Gualter Couto & Ayhan Orhan & Muhammad Umar & Dervis Kirikkaleli, 2023. "Financial Risk and Environmental Sustainability in Poland: Evidence from Novel Fourier-Based Estimators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Stephane Dées, 2020. "Assessing the Role of Institutions in Limiting the Environmental Externalities of Economic Growth," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 76(2), pages 429-445, July.
    6. Brock,W.A. & Taylor,M.S., 2003. "Economic growth and the environment : matching the stylized facts," Working papers 16, Wisconsin Madison - Social Systems.
    7. Apergis, Nicholas & Payne, James E., 2020. "NAFTA and the convergence of CO2 emissions intensity and its determinants," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1-9.
    8. Brock, William A. & Taylor, M. Scott, 2005. "Economic Growth and the Environment: A Review of Theory and Empirics," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 28, pages 1749-1821, Elsevier.
    9. Mazzanti, Massimiliano & Zoboli, Roberto, 2008. "Waste generation, waste disposal and policy effectiveness," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(10), pages 1221-1234.
    10. Abhishek Dutta & Debarati Ghosh & Meghna Dutta, 2024. "Can borrowing constraints enhance environmental sustainability? An alternative parametric approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 2683-2693, May.
    11. Ingmar Schumacher, 2019. "Climate Policy Must Favour Mitigation Over Adaptation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 74(4), pages 1519-1531, December.
    12. Liu Xiangdong & Wang Qi, 2016. "An Optimal Emission Mechanism of Sustainability of China: How to Achieve a Win-Win Solution Between Economy and Environment?," Journal of Systems Science and Information, De Gruyter, vol. 4(6), pages 534-546, December.
    13. UÄŸur UrsavaÅŸ & Veli Yilanci, 2023. "Convergence analysis of ecological footprint at different time scales: Evidence from Southern Common Market countries," Energy & Environment, , vol. 34(2), pages 429-442, March.
    14. Maria Cunha-e-Sá & Ana Reis, 2007. "The Optimal Timing of Adoption of a Green Technology," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 36(1), pages 35-55, January.
    15. Brock,W.A., 2003. "Tipping points, abrupt opinion changes, and punctuated policy change," Working papers 28, Wisconsin Madison - Social Systems.
    16. G. Bahar Senol & Oya Pinar Ardic, 2009. "Pollution, Abatementm and Sustainable Growth: A Schumpeterian Approach," 2009 Meeting Papers 800, Society for Economic Dynamics.

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    JEL classification:

    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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