Population Ageing and the Environment: A Comparative Study of Nature-Concerning and Action-Requiring Outcomes

Andreas Irmen (), Maria Krelifa () and Anastasia Litina ()
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Andreas Irmen: DEM, Université du Luxembourg
Maria Krelifa: DEM, Université du Luxembourg
Anastasia Litina: University of Macedonia

DEM Discussion Paper Series from Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg

Abstract: We study an under-explored implication of population ageing, i. e., its effect on country-level environmental outcomes and on individual-level environmental attitudes. In doing so, we propose a novel classification of country-level environmental outcomes, namely action-requiring and nature-concerning. The borderline between these two categories lies in the level of civic engagement required to fulfill them. Using panel data from a broad set of countries (1995–2018), we find that population ageing is linked to improvements in environmental outcomes that require minimal civic engagement, while it shows no clear association with outcomes that depend on active participation. Analysis of survey data (2006–2016) further suggests that living in ageing societies lowers individuals’ environmental engagement, without affecting underlying environmental concern

Keywords: ageing; environmental policy; individual attitudes; demographic change. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J10 Q57 Q58 Q59 Z19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:luc:wpaper:25-08

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