Deck 20: Development, Poverty, and the Environment

Question 1

Consider the "happy planet index" at http://www.happyplanetindex.org/calculated.htm. In what ways is this index more revealing or less revealing than the others presented in this chapter? Do you think it has some unique advantages or disadvantages relative to the others? If so, what are they?

Answer 1

Happy Planet Index (HPI) is an innovative indicator that measures the sustainable well - being on global level. In other words, HPI states that how well nations around the world are performing with respect to support they provide to their residents or inhabitants to live good lives at present and also ensuring that future generation will also lead a good life as well.
This index is more revealing in the sense that it provides nations across world with a direction in which they must travel so that their vision of progress relates to people's lives rather than their destruction. This measure combines life expectancy, experienced well - being, and ecological footprint. Thus, combines the attributes of Genuine progress indicator, Ecological footprint, and Human development index and therefore provides the benefits of three measures rolled into one.
It has same unique advantages relative to others in the sense that it put forward well being in current as well as future time period at the heart of its measurement.
It tries to acknowledge the fact that whether a country is rich or poor end goal of each country is same that is to produce happy and healthy lives for its current and future generations.
It also points towards the fact that the western model of development as copied by many rapidly developing countries like China and India is not sustainable and it is high time that we should focus and find some alternative path for development so that our planet could move towards sustainable well - being.
This index is also advantageous in the sense that it clearly states that higher standard of living is not an automatic recipe for the high levels of well - being or happy lives.

Question 2

"Economic growth has historically provided a valuable vehicle for raising the standard of living. Now that the standard of living is so high, however, further economic growth is unnecessary. When the undesirable side effects are considered, it is probably counterproductive. Economic growth is a process that has outlived its usefulness." Discuss.

Answer 2

It is not right to state that economic growth is a process that has outlived its usefulness. It is right that standard of living has increased but if we analyze this increase in living standards then we can face the reality that this increase in standard of living is mainly achieved in the developed countries and some developing countries.
Many developing countries and almost all least developed countries still have very low standard of living. These are the countries where majority of world population resides.
These countries still need process of economic growth or we can say rapid economic growth to pull out large percentage of their population from poverty.
Thus, economic growth is still very much required.
It is true that current process of economic growth with it's over reliance on fossil fuels is not an environmental friendly process. But then environmental friendly technologies that have been developed are not only expensive but also are confined to developed countries as well. So, in absence of adequate reach to these environmental friendly technologies many developing countries and most least developed countries have to rely on traditional growth process and which is also a right process as well in face of their large proportion of population being poor and malnourished.
Thus, economic growth is an outmost necessity but apart from economic growth several other approaches are also necessary.
Moreover, developing and least developed countries face heavy debt burden, being export oriented economies face falling prices for export and have to deal with capital flight. These fronts also require proper action to bring in substantial development.
Apart from this, developed countries should also undertake steps with regard to transfer of environmental friendly technologies to developing countries so that these countries can utilize the economic growth minus its harmful impact in environment in raising the standard of living of their respective population.

Question 3

Is affluence part of the problem or part of the solution when it comes to environmental problems? Why?

Answer 3

Affluence is part of the solution when it comes to environmental problems because poverty is considered as the foremost reason behind the multitude of environmental problems.
It has been witnessed that low - income or developing countries have high level of air pollution, deforestation, and soil erosion in comparison to high income or developed countries.
This happens because due to lack of resources to invest in expensive environmental friendly technologies, these countries have to rely on traditional growth process with its over reliance on usage of fossil fuels resulting in high level of air and water pollution.
Also, with high number of landless peasant, scores of forests have been cleared in total disregard to environmental sustenance so that land to work could be provided to ever increasing population most of which are dependent on the agriculture for their livelihood.
Moreover, low level of income and tough fight for survival is driving poor to farm highly erodible land leading to problem of soil erosion.
It has been widely acknowledged that effective dealing with these environmental problems and human sufferings that lie behind them requires increase in standard of living.
Economic development is considered as an important vehicle to accomplish the goal of increase in living standards. As the standard of living of the people in developing or low - income countries increases, resources available for investment also increase.
With fight for survival becomes a thing of past, people in these countries become concerned about increasing resource scarcity and rising environmental costs and with increased resources at their disposal, speed up their investment in environmental friendly technologies.
Also, as people become affluent their concern about food and health also increases. They are ready to pay more for organic food and also compel their respective country governments to enact tough pollution laws and increase green cover.
Higher standard of living also results in higher education level which results in informed citizens. This increased in informed citizenry result in effective implementation of rules and regulation pertaining to environment like usage of environmental friendly transport technologies such as use of bicycles, solar powered cars as seen in many developed countries especially many European countries.
Thus, affluence by increasing the standard of living as well as concern for environment helps in the solution of environmental problems.