Population growth and natural resource scarcity: long-run development under seemingly unfavourable conditions

Arbeitspapier

The paper develops a model with non-exponential population growth, nonrenewable natural resources, and endogenous knowledge creation to analyse substitution between primary inputs and an essential use of resources in the innovation sectors, which is generally considered as most unfavourable for growth. We show that population growth and poor input substitution are not detrimental but even needed to obtain sustainable consumption. A permanent increase in living standards can be achieved under free market conditions. With a backstop technology, the system converges to a balanced growth path with classical properties.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Economics Working Paper Series ; No. 08/87

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Exhaustible Resources and Economic Development ; Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation ; Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth ; One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
• Subject: Population growth ; non-renewable resources ; poor input substitution ; technical change ; sustainability ; Wirtschaftswachstum ; Bevölkerungswachstum ; Erschöpfbare Ressourcen ; Technischer Fortschritt ; Nachhaltige Entwicklung ; Wachstumstheorie ; Theorie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Bretschger, Lucas
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): ETH Zurich, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research
• (where): Zurich
• (when): 2009

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/171530
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET