An Axiomatic Characterization of a Generalized Ecological Footprint

Thomas Kuhn (), Radomir Pestow () and Anja Zenker ()
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Thomas Kuhn: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Chemnitz University of Technology
Radomir Pestow: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Chemnitz University of Technology
Anja Zenker: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Chemnitz University of Technology

No 33, Chemnitz Economic Papers from Department of Economics, Chemnitz University of Technology

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to propose an axiomatic characterization of ecological footprint indices. Using an axiomatic approach, we de?ne a set of axioms to represent the properties considered appropriate to ecological footprint measures in general. It can be shown that there exists a generalized index which is unique up to a strictly increasing function of the world land area appropriated to satisfy human needs. As an implication, the well-known compound-based footprint index used by the Global Footprint Network can be characterized as a speci?cation of the generalized index, only if proportionality in world land area use is additionally assumed and the norm is arbitrarily ?xed, in terms of global hectares. Instead, we ?nd that the applied methodology of normalization and standardization in the aggregation procedure of footprint indices is completely dispensible. In this respect, the proposition of generalized and axiomatically characterized indices for the measurement of the ecological footprint of human activity may be considered as the main contribution of the paper.

Keywords: Ecological Footprint Index; Axiomatic Foundation; Measurement Theory; Overshoot Day; Sustainable Welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q13 Q41 Q43 C43 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env
Date: 2019-08, Revised 2019-08
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Published in Chemnitz Economic Papers, August 2019, pages 1-16

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