Postmaterial Experience Economics, Population, and Environmental Sustainability

Postmaterial values with their reduced emphasis on accumulating material possessions lead to greater political support for limits on environmental pollution and to a less entropic way of life that increases environmental sustainability. Similarly, reducing human fertility to replacement levels can s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of Population and Sustainability Vol. 2; no. 2; pp. 33 - 33–50
Main Author Booth, Douglas
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ipswich The White Horse Press 16.06.2021
Subjects
Economic development
Economic growth
experience economics
Fertility
Generations
Hypotheses
population
Population growth
postmaterialism
Social goals
Sustainability
Sustainable development
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Summary:Postmaterial values with their reduced emphasis on accumulating material possessions lead to greater political support for limits on environmental pollution and to a less entropic way of life that increases environmental sustainability. Similarly, reducing human fertility to replacement levels can stabilize population and increase environmental sustainability in the future by reducing the pressure of population growth on environmental resources. In recent history, increases in per capita economic well being has been a primary driver of expansion in postmaterialism and reduce human fertility worldwide. The irony of this phenomena is that economic development potentially destructive to the environment leads to more postmaterialism and reduced fertility, both of which benefit environmental sustainability. In this article, the underpinnings of these conclusions will be set out as well as possible ways around the dilemma they bring.
ISSN:2398-5488
2398-5496
DOI:10.3197/jps.2018.2.2.33