Environmental Capacity Through the Moral Economic Lens – Dynamic Equilibria

Abstract

This article explores and maps hierarchical, dynamic environmental-economic equilibria. Based on the moral economic premise of finite human needs, on output that increases with the population number in a supralinear manner, and on technology levels, moral economic equilibria are identified and quantified. These equilibria are compared to environmental capacities – as a function of technology levels. A needs-based, theoretical attempt is made to resolve the tensions and conversion issues in the economic-environmental nexus. A novel, visual, moral economic model of equilibria with the environment is established and justified. The model is expected to suggest indirect economic adjustments, in order to align with sustainability, which – indeed – is more of a notion to constantly be aligned with, than a handful of one-time economic targets to meet.