Abstract
This chapter presents the research question as well as the motivation for an analysis of material productivity convergence. The development patterns of material productivity in the OECD and BRICS countries between 1980 and 2008 are examined for two reasons: firstly, insights into material productivity patterns can contribute to the understanding of TFP growth, and secondly, it can contribute to the debate about sustainable development by revealing potentials for a reduction of material use globally. This chapter also discusses the relations between the development of GDP, material consumption, and material productivity. It is made clear that an increase in material productivity does not automatically imply a reduction in material consumption levels. Yet, with all other things remaining equal, an increase in material productivity bears the potential for a reduction of material consumption. Moreover, the implications of the different forms of convergence for the potential of a reduction of material consumption are presented.
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Talmon-Gros, L. (2014). Research Question. In: Development Patterns of Material Productivity. Contributions to Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02538-4_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02538-4_7
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