The effects of globalization on Ecological Footprints: an empirical analysis

• Published in: Environment, development and sustainability Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 863 - 876
• Main Authors: Figge, Lukas, Oebels, Kay, Offermans, Astrid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-06-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Affluence; Consumption; Correlation analysis; Developing countries; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological effects; Ecological footprint; Ecological monitoring; Ecology; Economic Geology; Economic Growth; Empirical analysis; Environment; Environmental Economics; Environmental impact; Environmental Management; Environmental performance; Exports; Gender inequality; Globalization; Human development; Human performance; Imports; Income inequality; International trade; LDCs; Morality; Pollutants; Regression analysis; Socioeconomics; Statistical analysis; Sustainability; Sustainable Development; Variants; Ecological Footprint; Environmental footprints; Sustainable development; Globalization; MGI
• ISSN: 1387-585X; 1573-2975
• DOI: 10.1007/s10668-016-9769-8

Whether globalization is sustainable is a contested issue. The quantitative literature on the Maastricht Globalization Index (MGI) and the KOF index of globalization shows that globalization contributes positively to economic and human development, environmental performance, mortality, gender equality and physical integrity rights. However, globalization also drives within-country income inequality, especially in developing countries. Evidence on the effects of globalization on the ecological environment does not provide clear patterns; various dimensions of globalization have different effects on various pollutants. This article analyzes the statistical relationship between the most recent MGI (2012 edition) and the ecological dimension of sustainable development. The latter will be operationalized by considering four variants of the Ecological Footprint. The relation between globalization and sustainable development will be controlled for GDP per capita as a proxy for affluence and report the results for Pearson’s correlations and multivariate regressions for up to 171 countries. We conclude that the overall index of globalization significantly increases the Ecological Footprint of consumption, exports and imports. The decomposition of globalization into different domains reveals that apart from the political dimension, all dimensions drive human pressures and demands on the environment. Globalization needs to go into new directions if it is to make a contribution toward all aspects of sustainable development.