When is growth sustainable? A simple model for undergraduates

Gregory Casey

No 2025_106, Department of Economics Working Papers from Department of Economics, Williams College

Abstract: "I present a simple dynamic model that allows students to determine whether, and under what conditions, economic growth is compatible with environmental sustainability. The model captures two key forces: the slowing of economic growth and the decoupling of economic growth from environmental damage. In this way, it connects closely with ongoing public discussions focusing on degrowth and decoupling. The model highlights a key observation that students often find counter-intuitive: economic growth is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for achieving a sustainability target, such as keeping global average surface temperatures from increasing by 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. The model is solved by taking the sum of a geometric series. It is designed for undergraduate courses that do not require calculus, but could be applicable in a wider range of settings."

Keywords: Sustainability; Economic Growth; Climate Change; Undergraduate Education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 23
Date: 2025-07-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env, nep-gro and nep-pke
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