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Sustainability and substitution of exhaustible natural resources

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  • Bretschger, Lucas
  • Smulders, Sjak

Abstract

We study long-run growth in a multi-sector economy with non-renewable resource use and endogenous innovations. Unlike recent capital resource models, we find that poor input substitution need not be detrimental for sustainable growth; on the contrary, combined with resource depletion it fosters structural change, which helps to sustain research investments. We derive the properties of the transition path, show which sectors survive in the long run, and discuss whether the economy approximates a steady state with or without a scale effect. The results continue to hold when some sectors exhibit perfect competition.

Suggested Citation

  • Bretschger, Lucas & Smulders, Sjak, 2012. "Sustainability and substitution of exhaustible natural resources," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 536-549.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:36:y:2012:i:4:p:536-549
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2011.11.003
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Growth; Non-renewable resources; Substitution; Investment incentives; Endogenous technological change; Sustainability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q30 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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