Economic growth, sustainable development and food consumption

• Autor(a) principal: Pais, Daniel Francisco Bento
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.6/9566
• topic: Abordagem Ardl; Consumo Alimentar; Consumo de Carne; Crescimento Económico; Custos Ambientais; Desenvolvimento Sustentável; Domínio/Área Científica::Ciências Sociais::Economia e Gestão

The major motivation behind the present study is to analyze the interactions between food consumption, economic growth and sustainable development. Considering that high population and income growths will lead the coming decades, an increase in global food demand is expected. Not only in terms of feeding the population but also to satisfy their recent needs of more calorie- and protein-dense foods. Livestock products such a meat are closely related to this trend, but also associated with impacts on the environment and public health. From land and water depletion, to greenhouse gases emissions and higher risks of non-communicable diseases. Therefore, an answer to this problem is needed. The literature suggests that meat consumption should be reduced for the sake of the environment and global population Inspired by these facts, this study employs an empirical approach, analyzing through three income groups and applying a sustainable development indicator, analyze the interactions of food consumption, specially meat consumption as the literature highlights. And the impact on the economy of a possible reduction in meat consumption suggested by the literature. By analyzing for different income groups and using a sustainable development indicator, our findings suggest that meat consumption, economic growth and sustainable development have different relationships considering income level. Succinctly, meat consumption promotes economic growth following the GDP, but neglects the sustainable development ISEW. Evidencing a dilemma between economic growth and economic sustainability. Further research is needed with the objective of further understand which solutions are more effective, as with the intent to promote growth, while considering the environmental perspective.