The Ecological Intensity of Well-Being in Developing Countries: A Panel Data Analysis

Abstract

Recent sustainability research into balancing the demands for ecosystem services and benefits in the form of human well-being has developed into a study of the ecological intensity of well-being (EIWB). Research into EIWB focuses on its reduction, as a pathway to sustainability. Here, we present a revised measure of EIWB by using a ratio of ecological footprint per capita (EF) to infant survival rate (ISR). EF per capita is included as an indicator of anthropogenic environmental stress and ISR serves as a measure of well-being, well suited to the context of developing countries. By using panel data for 81 developing countries, we mainly draw our hypothesis from a modernization perspective and check the effects of economic growth and urbanization on EIWB. The results indicate that economic growth has a positive effect on EIWB; also increasing urbanization can increase EIWB. Overall, these findings suggest that developing countries are less likely to achieve sustainability with current modernization practices.