Quando la Crescita Economica Causa Impoverimento: il Ruolo dell'Accesso alle Risorse Naturali e del Degrado Ambientale

Economic growth is recognized as necessary condition for poverty alleviation, while poverty is expected to be a cause of environmental depletion. Under this perspective, pro-growth policies are consistent with objective of poverty reduction and of environmental sustainability. This work raises doubts about this virtuous relationship. The purpose is not to deny that such links occur, but rather to show theoretical and empirical possibility that another chain of causes and effects might arise. In particular: positive economic growth can produce environmental externalities that hit mainly the poor. In this case the results are positive economic performances associated to a process of impoverishment and depletion of natural resources. In this context, policies with a narrow focus on economic growth not only risk being ineffective in reducing poverty and preserving environment, but they might lead to negative results too.