Open AccessPostmaterial Experience Economics, Population, and Environmental Sustainability
Author(s) -
Douglas E. Booth
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journal of population and sustainability
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2398-5496
pISSN - 2398-5488
DOI - 10.3197/jps.2018.2.2.33
Subject(s) - sustainability , population , economics , environmental pollution , population growth , natural resource economics , dilemma , fertility , per capita , politics , development economics , economic growth , political science , environmental protection , geography , sociology , ecology , philosophy , demography , epistemology , law , biology
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.