Do we Need a Sustainable Development or Do We Have To Avoid a Sustainable Degrowth

Abstract

Rentier and infra-rentier countries are more likely to overexploit their natural resources, which creates unfair growth (as long as we deprive future generations of their future endowments in terms of natural resources). This article reflects on the notion of “sustainable degrowth” by trying to situate it between economic growth and sustainable development. Our econometric study has allowed us to conclude that until then, the most prominent model is the pollutant. However, in the post-Kyoto period, 17 countries (from a sample of 33 countries) began to conceive growth that is less polluting.