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Material Flows and Economic Growth in Developing China

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  • Ming XU
  • Tianzhu ZHANG

Abstract

The concept of sustainable development concerns not only the natural environment but also human societies and economies. The method of economy‐wide materials flow accounting and analysis (EW‐MFA) is internationally recognized as a valuable tool for studying the physical dimensions of economies. EW‐MFA has been carried out in many industrialized countries, but very little work has been done for developing China; this article can be regarded as one of the first attempts to study China's economy in terms of materials flows. In this article we have compiled materials flow accounts for China during the time series 1990 to 2002 and derived indicators associated with international comparison. Results show that the annual material consumption of China's economy continuously increased except for a slump around 1998, whereas the material efficiency exhibited a three‐phase trend reflecting different macropolicies of the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Five‐Year Plans implemented by the central government. Based on this experience with EW‐MFA for China, suggestions for methodology development and further research are given for improving EW‐MFA as a more effective tool for environmental management.

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  • Ming XU & Tianzhu ZHANG, 2007. "Material Flows and Economic Growth in Developing China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(1), pages 121-140, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:11:y:2007:i:1:p:121-140
    DOI: 10.1162/jiec.2007.1105
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    Cited by:

    1. Kalimeris, Panos & Bithas, Kostas & Richardson, Clive & Nijkamp, Peter, 2020. "Hidden linkages between resources and economy: A “Beyond-GDP” approach using alternative welfare indicators," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    2. Li, Ying & Beeton, R.J.S. & Halog, Anthony & Sigler, Thomas, 2016. "Evaluating urban sustainability potential based on material flow analysis of inputs and outputs: A case study in Jinchang City, China," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 87-98.
    3. Lu, Hui & Liu, Xia & Chen, Hong & Long, Ruyin & Yue, Ting, 2017. "Who contributed to “corporation green” in China? A view of public- and private-sphere pro-environmental behavior among employees," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 166-175.
    4. Dittrich, Monika & Bringezu, Stefan, 2010. "The physical dimension of international trade: Part 1: Direct global flows between 1962 and 2005," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 1838-1847, July.
    5. Xu, Ming & Jia, Xiao-Ping & Shi, Lei & Zhang, Tian-Zhu, 2008. "Societal metabolism in Northeast China: Case study of Liaoning Province," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(8), pages 1082-1086.
    6. Kyaw Maung & Marianne Martinico-Perez & Takahiro Komatsu & Sujauddin Mohammad & Shinsuke Murakami & Hiroki Tanikawa, 2015. "Comparative studies on the driving factors of resource flows in Myanmar, the Philippines, and Bangladesh," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 17(3), pages 407-429, July.
    7. Raupova, Ozoda & Kamahara, Hirotsugu & Goto, Naohiro, 2014. "Assessment of physical economy through economy-wide material flow analysis in developing Uzbekistan," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 76-85.

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