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A theory of endogenous degrowth and environmental sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Philippe Aghion
  • Timo Boppart
  • Michael Peters
  • Matthew Schwartzman
  • Fabrizio Zilibotti

Abstract

We develop and quantify a growth theory where consumers' preferences are defined over products with varying environmental impacts. Preferences are non-homothetic: Necessities are intensive in material inputs whose production leads to high emissions, while luxury goods, being more reliant on services, exhibit a comparatively lower environmental footprint. Directed innovation is the focal point of the study: it can be aimed at either enhancing the productivity of material production or refining the quality of luxury goods. Over time, innovation increasingly prioritizes quality improvement, consequently reducing the environmental impact of economic growth. The pace of structural transformation and the composition of GDP are both endogenous and susceptible to policy interventions. The shift towards quality-oriented growth may result in a decline in (mis)measured GDP growth without a decrease in welfare. Extending the model to a two-country trade scenario reveals that trade barriers could have a detrimental effect on environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Philippe Aghion & Timo Boppart & Michael Peters & Matthew Schwartzman & Fabrizio Zilibotti, 2025. "A theory of endogenous degrowth and environmental sustainability," CEP Discussion Papers dp2086, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp2086
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timo Boppart, 2014. "Structural Change and the Kaldor Facts in a Growth Model With Relative Price Effects and Non‐Gorman Preferences," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 82, pages 2167-2196, November.
    2. Simon Alder & Timo Boppart & Andreas Müller, 2022. "A Theory of Structural Change That Can Fit the Data," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(2), pages 160-206, April.
    3. Irene C. Dedoussi & Sebastian D. Eastham & Erwan Monier & Steven R. H. Barrett, 2020. "Premature mortality related to United States cross-state air pollution," Nature, Nature, vol. 578(7794), pages 261-265, February.
    4. Parshall, Lily & Gurney, Kevin & Hammer, Stephen A. & Mendoza, Daniel & Zhou, Yuyu & Geethakumar, Sarath, 2010. "Modeling energy consumption and CO2 emissions at the urban scale: Methodological challenges and insights from the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 4765-4782, September.
    5. Ufuk Akcigit & Harun Alp & Michael Peters, 2021. "Lack of Selection and Limits to Delegation: Firm Dynamics in Developing Countries," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(1), pages 231-275, January.
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    Keywords

    environmental impact; sustainability; degrowth;
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