Development Indexes, Environmental Cost Impact, and Well-Being: Trends and Comparisons in Italy

Marco Filippo Torchio (), Umberto Lucia () and Giulia Grisolia ()
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Marco Filippo Torchio: Dipartimento Energia “Galileo Ferraris”, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Umberto Lucia: Dipartimento Energia “Galileo Ferraris”, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Giulia Grisolia: Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Ambiente, del Territorio e delle Infrastrutture, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: In 1990, the United Nations (UN) presented the Human Development Index ( H D I ) as a measure of human development that considers three fundamental dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a decent standard of living. This paper proposes some considerations about human well-being factors based on H D I analysis, also introducing some considerations on environmental pollution. As regards environmental issues, two different pollutants are considered together with their environmental costs: (i) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which have an impact on a global scale, and (ii) emissions from fine particulate matter, primarily having an impact on a local scale. Thus, a new index based on the external environmental costs is proposed, and two scenarios are discussed. On the other hand, as it concerns human well-being, the results of surveys among the population are used. Furthermore, other features regarding health services and demographic aspects are taken into account, too. Italy is analysed as a case study over the last three decades. Easterlin’s considerations are verified based on the variation of perceived well-being related to the changes in G D P . The Italian case study shows that despite having achieved a satisfactory H D I level, there is a wide margin for improvement from both the environmental and the well-being standpoints.

Keywords: happiness; wealth; Human Development Index; sustainability; Environmental Cost Index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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