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Inequality, Social Respectability, Political Power, and Environmental Devastation

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  • Jon Wisman

Abstract

Although healthy societies may require a degree of material inequality, higher levels of inequality have been linked to negative social consequences ranging from poorer health to lessened democracy. However, the greatest contemporary threat of excessive inequality might be its contribution to increased environmental degradation. This article explores the manner in which inequality augments consumption, by drawing upon Thorstein Veblen's theory of consumer behavior whereby in societies in which fluid social mobility is believed possible, inequality encourages households to seek social certification through consumption. The ideology, institutions, and behavior generated by this focus on consumption reduce the potential for people to achieve certification of value through more environmentally friendly domains such as work and community. This article also addresses the manner in which inequality impedes responses aimed at reducing environmental damage by augmenting the political power of those whose interests would be most harmed by measures to protect the environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Jon Wisman, 2011. "Inequality, Social Respectability, Political Power, and Environmental Devastation," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(4), pages 877-900.
    • Handle: RePEc:mes:jeciss:v:45:y:2011:i:4:p:877-900
    DOI: 10.2753/JEI0021-3624450407
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    Cited by:

    1. Jon Wisman, 2013. "Government Is Whose Problem?," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(4), pages 911-938.
    2. Jon D. Wisman & Matthew E. Davis, 2013. "Degraded Work, Declining Community, Rising Inequality, and the Transformation of the Protestant Ethic in America: 1870–1930," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(5), pages 1075-1105, November.
    3. Kersty Hobson, 2013. "‘Weak’ or ‘Strong’ Sustainable Consumption? Efficiency, Degrowth, and the 10 Year Framework of Programmes," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 31(6), pages 1082-1098, December.
    4. Jon D. Wisman & Aaron Pacitti, 2013. "Ending the Crisis With Guaranteed Employment and Retraining," Working Papers 2013-12, American University, Department of Economics.
    5. Jon D. Wisman, 2014. "Capitalism and Inequality Re-Examined," Working Papers 2014-12, American University, Department of Economics.
    6. Lutz Philip Hecker & Frank Wätzold & Gunther Markwardt, 2018. "Spotlight on Spatial Environmental Policy Spillovers: An Econometric Analysis of Wastewater Treatment in Mexican Municipalities," CESifo Working Paper Series 7251, CESifo.
    7. Kopp, Thomas & Nabernegg, Markus, 2022. "Inequality and Environmental Impact – Can the Two Be Reduced Jointly?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    8. Moritz A. Drupp & Ulrike Kornek & Jasper N. Meya & Lutz Sager, 2021. "Inequality and the Environment: The Economics of a Two-Headed Hydra," CESifo Working Paper Series 9447, CESifo.
    9. Henninger, Ella & Smith, E. Keith, 2024. "Beyond the haze: Decomposing the effect of economic inequality on global air quality from 2000 to 2020," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    10. Jon Wisman, 2013. "The Growth Trap, Ecological Devastation, and the Promise of Guaranteed Employment," Challenge, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(2), pages 53-78.
    11. Markwardt, Gunther & Hecker, Lutz & Wätzold, Frank, 2019. "Spotlight on spatial environmental policy spillovers: An econometric analysis of wastewater treatment in Mexican municipalities," VfS Annual Conference 2019 (Leipzig): 30 Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall - Democracy and Market Economy 203627, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    12. Hecker, Lutz Philip & Wätzold, Frank & Markwardt, Gunther, 2020. "Spotlight on Spatial Spillovers: An Econometric Analysis of Wastewater Treatment in Mexican Municipalities," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    13. Qiao, Kunyuan & Dowell, Glen, 2022. "Environmental concerns, income inequality, and purchase of environmentally-friendly products: A longitudinal study of U.S. counties (2010-2017)," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(4).
    14. Maria S. Floro, 2012. "The Crises of Environment and Social Reproduction: Understanding their Linkages," Working Papers 2012-04, American University, Department of Economics.

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