National economic systems are investigated in a 3-axis diagram where three different indicators are used to account for resource use, societal organization, and goods and services produced, respectively. This framework is consistent with an input-state-output (environment-society-economy) scheme based on a logical, physical and thermodynamic order between the three dimensions of sustainability. This approach highlights which input-state-output relations are realized and which relations are less common in the behavior of these systems. It assesses and overcomes major drawbacks of common representations of sustainability. Within a cube diagram, 99 national economies are ranked and grouped into 8 categories, which are labeled to reflect the main characteristics of their behavior according to the three environmental, social and economic parameters. A cluster analysis is also performed in order to statistically support the classification and strengthen the interpretation of results. Results show that no countries exhibit a dematerialization of economic activity and that non-sustainable economic activity can take place over a wide range of income distributions (Gini coefficients).

Pulselli, F.M., Coscieme, L., Neri, L., Regoli, A., Sutton, P.C., Lemmi, A., et al. (2015). The world economy in a cube: A more rational structural representation of sustainability. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS, 35, 41-51 [10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.08.002].

The world economy in a cube: A more rational structural representation of sustainability

Pulselli, F. M.;Coscieme, L.;Neri, L.;Lemmi, A.;Bastianoni, S.
2015-01-01

Abstract

National economic systems are investigated in a 3-axis diagram where three different indicators are used to account for resource use, societal organization, and goods and services produced, respectively. This framework is consistent with an input-state-output (environment-society-economy) scheme based on a logical, physical and thermodynamic order between the three dimensions of sustainability. This approach highlights which input-state-output relations are realized and which relations are less common in the behavior of these systems. It assesses and overcomes major drawbacks of common representations of sustainability. Within a cube diagram, 99 national economies are ranked and grouped into 8 categories, which are labeled to reflect the main characteristics of their behavior according to the three environmental, social and economic parameters. A cluster analysis is also performed in order to statistically support the classification and strengthen the interpretation of results. Results show that no countries exhibit a dematerialization of economic activity and that non-sustainable economic activity can take place over a wide range of income distributions (Gini coefficients).
2015
Pulselli, F.M., Coscieme, L., Neri, L., Regoli, A., Sutton, P.C., Lemmi, A., et al. (2015). The world economy in a cube: A more rational structural representation of sustainability. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS, 35, 41-51 [10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.08.002].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11365/982042