8/17/2019 Public Views Growth vs Env_rg

1/15

See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301352814

Public views on economic growth, theenvironment and prosperity: Results of aquestionnaire survey

Article · April 2016DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001

READS

59

2 authors:

Stefan Drews

Autonomous University of Barcelona

5 PUBLICATIONS 4 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh

Autonomous University of Barcelona

303 PUBLICATIONS 6,658 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate,letting you access and read them immediately.

Available from: Stefan DrewsRetrieved on: 28 April 2016

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefan_Drews?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_4https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefan_Drews?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_4https://www.researchgate.net/?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_1https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeroen_Van_Den_Bergh?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_7https://www.researchgate.net/institution/Autonomous_University_of_Barcelona?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_6https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeroen_Van_Den_Bergh?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_5https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeroen_Van_Den_Bergh?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_4https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefan_Drews?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_7https://www.researchgate.net/institution/Autonomous_University_of_Barcelona?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_6https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefan_Drews?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_5https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefan_Drews?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_4https://www.researchgate.net/?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_1https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301352814_Public_views_on_economic_growth_the_environment_and_prosperity_Results_of_a_questionnaire_survey?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_3https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301352814_Public_views_on_economic_growth_the_environment_and_prosperity_Results_of_a_questionnaire_survey?enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_2

8/17/2019 Public Views Growth vs Env_rg

2/15

Public views on economic growth, the environment and prosperity:Results of a questionnaire survey

Stefan Drews a ,*, Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh b ,c ,1a Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Edi ci Z, UAB Campus, 08193 Bellaterra, Spainb ICREA, Barcelona, Spainc Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Edi ci Z, UAB Campus 08193 Bellaterra, Spain

A R T I C L E I N F O

Article history:Received 15 October 2015Received in revised form 29 March 2016Accepted 4 April 2016Available online xxx

Keywords:Economic growthEnvironmental sustainabilityPublic opinionLimits to growthGrowth debateClimate change

A B S T R A C T

The long-standing academic and public debate on economic growth, prosperity and environmentalsustainability has recently gained new momentum. It lacks, however, a broad perspective on publicopinion. Prior opinion surveys typically offered a simple dichotomous choice between growth andenvironmental protection. This study examines public beliefs and attitudes about a wider range of aspects of the growth debate. To this end, we conducted an online questionnaire survey including acountry-wide, representative sample of 1008 Spanish citizens. Using factor analysis, we identify sixdistinct dimensions of public attitudes, referred to as: prosperity with growth ; environmental limits to growth ; general optimism ; wrong priority ; overrated GDP ; and governmental control . We further analyzeseveral speci c questions associated with the growth debate, such as those concerning the desired GDPgrowth rate, the preferred growth-environment position, and beliefs about, as well as reasons for, apossible end or continuation of growth. We nd that most respondents favor GDP growth rates of morethan 3%. A majority views growth and environmental sustainability as compatible ( green growth ), whileabout one-third prefers either ignoring growth as a policy aim ( agrowth ), or stopping it altogether(degrowth ). Only very few people want growth unconditionally ( growth-at-all-costs ). About one-third of therespondents believe that growthmay be never-ending. Weexamine howsupport foror disagreementwith different statements on growth are related to each other, as well as how they are in uenced bysocio-demographic, knowledge and ideology/values variables. Overall, our ndings can inform publicdebates about the growth paradigm and its potential alternatives by providing a more nuancedunderstanding of public opinion. We make suggestions for future research, including modifying pollquestions on growth and environment through offering a more diverse set of response options.

ã 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction

There is a long-standing and recently revived academic andpublic debate about economic growth and its relationship toenvironmental quality and prosperity. It gained momentum during

the

1960s

and

1970s

(Mishan,

1967;

Nordhaus

and

Tobin

1972;Daly, 1973; Easterlin 1974; Hirsch, 1976; Scitovsky, 1976; Sen, 1976and Hueting, 1980 ), reaching a wide audience through thepublication of the “ The Limits to Growth ” report by Meadows

et al. (1972) . For various reasons, this debate waned somewhatafter a while (Buttel et al., 1990 ). Following the recent globaleconomic crisis and the challenges posed by climate change,biodiversity loss and other global environmental changes, eco-nomic growth has become again a contested issue (e.g. Turner,

2008;

Victor,

2010;

Schneider

et

al.,

2010;

Jackson,

2011;

Antal

andvan den Bergh, 2014; Costanza et al., 2014; Anderson, 201 5). Evencertain in uential mainstream economists express skepticismabout continued growth: some argue that the times of higheconomic growth in rich countries like the US are over (Gordon,2012 , 2014 ), others lament the “ GDP fetishism ” (Stiglitz, 2009 ),while again others ask whether it is time to reconsider the “ growthimperative ” (Rogoff, 2012 ).

These questions also attract considerable public attention. Forexample, the book “ Prosperity Without Growth ” by Tim Jackson(2011) was featured in various media around the world. A BBC

* Corresponding author.E-mail addresses: stefan.drews11@gmail.com (S. Drews), jeroen.bergh@uab.es

(J.C.J.M. van den Bergh).1 Also af liated with the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, and

the Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam, TheNetherlands. Fellow of Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.0010959-3780/ ã 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Global Environmental Change 39 (2016) 1 – 14

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Global Environmental Change

j ou rna l ho me page : www.e l s ev i e r. com/ loca t e /g loenv cha

http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270938153_The_Costs_of_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270938153_The_Costs_of_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270938153_The_Costs_of_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270938153_The_Costs_of_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273087647_The_Social_Limits_to_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273087647_The_Social_Limits_to_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273087647_The_Social_Limits_to_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273087647_The_Social_Limits_to_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227466719_The_Joyless_Economy_The_Psychology_of_Human_Satisfaction?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227466719_The_Joyless_Economy_The_Psychology_of_Human_Satisfaction?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227466719_The_Joyless_Economy_The_Psychology_of_Human_Satisfaction?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4720821_Real_National_Income?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4720821_Real_National_Income?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4720821_Real_National_Income?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4720821_Real_National_Income?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4720821_Real_National_Income?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44836974_The_Limits_To_Growth_A_Report_to_the_Club_of_Rome's_Project_on_the_Predicament_of_Mankind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44836974_The_Limits_To_Growth_A_Report_to_the_Club_of_Rome's_Project_on_the_Predicament_of_Mankind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44836974_The_Limits_To_Growth_A_Report_to_the_Club_of_Rome's_Project_on_the_Predicament_of_Mankind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44836974_The_Limits_To_Growth_A_Report_to_the_Club_of_Rome's_Project_on_the_Predicament_of_Mankind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44836974_The_Limits_To_Growth_A_Report_to_the_Club_of_Rome's_Project_on_the_Predicament_of_Mankind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44836974_The_Limits_To_Growth_A_Report_to_the_Club_of_Rome's_Project_on_the_Predicament_of_Mankind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47812447_Questioning_economic_growth_Nature?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47812447_Questioning_economic_growth_Nature?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47812447_Questioning_economic_growth_Nature?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47812447_Questioning_economic_growth_Nature?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236219138_Prosperity_with_Growth_Economics_for_A_Finite_Planet?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236219138_Prosperity_with_Growth_Economics_for_A_Finite_Planet?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236219138_Prosperity_with_Growth_Economics_for_A_Finite_Planet?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236219138_Prosperity_with_Growth_Economics_for_A_Finite_Planet?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259772045_Development_Time_to_leave_GDP_behind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259772045_Development_Time_to_leave_GDP_behind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259772045_Development_Time_to_leave_GDP_behind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259772045_Development_Time_to_leave_GDP_behind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259772045_Development_Time_to_leave_GDP_behind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259772045_Development_Time_to_leave_GDP_behind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259772045_Development_Time_to_leave_GDP_behind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259772045_Development_Time_to_leave_GDP_behind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283815808_Duality_in_climate_science?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283815808_Duality_in_climate_science?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283815808_Duality_in_climate_science?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254435372_Is_US_Economic_Growth_Over_Faltering_Innovation_Confronts_The_Six_Headwinds?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254435372_Is_US_Economic_Growth_Over_Faltering_Innovation_Confronts_The_Six_Headwinds?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260313736_The_Effect_of_Perceived_and_Assessed_Knowledge_of_Climate_Change_on_Public_Policy_Concerns_An_Empirical_Comparison?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260313736_The_Effect_of_Perceived_and_Assessed_Knowledge_of_Climate_Change_on_Public_Policy_Concerns_An_Empirical_Comparison?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260313736_The_Effect_of_Perceived_and_Assessed_Knowledge_of_Climate_Change_on_Public_Policy_Concerns_An_Empirical_Comparison?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-mailto:stefan.drews11@gmail.commailto:stefan.drews11@gmail.commailto:jeroen.bergh@uab.eshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09593780http://www.elsevier.com/locate/gloenvchahttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/gloenvchahttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/gloenvchahttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/gloenvchahttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/gloenvchahttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/gloenvchahttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/gloenvchahttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/47812447_Questioning_economic_growth_Nature?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260313736_The_Effect_of_Perceived_and_Assessed_Knowledge_of_Climate_Change_on_Public_Policy_Concerns_An_Empirical_Comparison?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4720821_Real_National_Income?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4720821_Real_National_Income?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227466719_The_Joyless_Economy_The_Psychology_of_Human_Satisfaction?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270938153_The_Costs_of_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44836974_The_Limits_To_Growth_A_Report_to_the_Club_of_Rome's_Project_on_the_Predicament_of_Mankind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44836974_The_Limits_To_Growth_A_Report_to_the_Club_of_Rome's_Project_on_the_Predicament_of_Mankind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236219138_Prosperity_with_Growth_Economics_for_A_Finite_Planet?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273087647_The_Social_Limits_to_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254435372_Is_US_Economic_Growth_Over_Faltering_Innovation_Confronts_The_Six_Headwinds?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254435372_Is_US_Economic_Growth_Over_Faltering_Innovation_Confronts_The_Six_Headwinds?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259772045_Development_Time_to_leave_GDP_behind?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277932087_Green_growth_and_climate_change_conceptual_and_empirical_considerations?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283815808_Duality_in_climate_science?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://www.elsevier.com/locate/gloenvchahttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09593780http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001mailto:jeroen.bergh@uab.esmailto:stefan.drews11@gmail.comhttp://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.001&domain=pdfhttp://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-

8/17/2019 Public Views Growth vs Env_rg

3/15

article (2014) recently opened with: “ Poor GDP. Everyone seems tobe rounding on the once highly regarded measure. ” Paul Krugman,public intellectual and Nobel prize winner in Economics, has twicealready devoted attention to questions of growth and theenvironment in his NYT column (New York Times, 2014a/b ). Of course, the general narrative about growth remains positive andoptimistic. Witness the recent report “ Better Growth – BetterClimate ” (Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, 2014 )and the push for “ green growth ” by the World Bank (2012) and theOECD (2015a) .

These examples indicate that economic growth and itsrelationship to environmental sustainability is an increasinglyimportant public issue. If perpetual economic growth is indeedenvironmentally unsustainable, then it seems reasonable to studypublic attitudes towards the dominant paradigm, and seek publicsupport for strategies that go beyond it. However, public opinion isan element that is surprisingly missing in the newly emergingresearch on these topics. Although one can nd a few surveyquestions on this issue scattered in the literature, these are ratherambiguous, and do not represent the relevant debate very well, aswill be shown in a brief review below. In addition, there is a greatdeal of empirical research on environmental attitudes, but thesestudies are mostly carried out without considering the widersocioeconomic context (Uzzell and Räthzel, 2009; Gifford, 2014;Capstick et al., 2015 ), let alone speci c questions relating toeconomic growth.

This paper offers a more complete study of public views on thedebate about economic growth and the environment. It reports theresultsofarepresentative surveyfromSpain speci callydesignedforthis purpose. In the past, Spain has experienced high economicgrowth rates, followed byadeep economic crisis, and more recentlyamild economic improvement. The four main aims of this study are asfollows. First, we examine an array of attitudes towards economicgrowth anditsunderlying structure using statistical factoranalysis.Asecond aim is to examine public preferences regarding economicgrowth and the environment byusing a novel measure that capturesfour different positions. These preferences are then compared with

the previously identi ed attitudes, and with an arguably relatedmeasure: namely, what people view as a desirable rate of GDPgrowth in rich industrialized countries. Third, we investigate publicbeliefs about a core element of the growth debate: namely, whetherit is possible to grow inde nitely in rich countries. Wealso assess thereasons that individuals indicate for economic growth to end or not.Fourth, we study how beliefs and attitudes are related to each other,and how they vary across individual characteristics, such associodemographic, social-psychological and other factors.

2. Brief review of past studies

Past empirical research has examined what and how the generalpublic thinks about economic issues (e.g., Walstad, 1997; Caplan,

2002;

Blinder

and

Krueger,

200 4).

However,

little

is

known

aboutpeople ’s views on economic growth speci cally. The few availablestudies, such as Christandl and Fetchenhauer ’s (2009) work onpublic understanding of GDP growth, neglect questions associatedwith environmental sustainability and prosperity.

We are aware of only two older studies for the USA thatexamined public views in a broader and more critical way (Butteland Flinn, 1976; Czarnecki et al., 1980 ). However, not only was thisresearch undertaken more than three decades ago, but also it doesnot cover many issues that are being discussed in the currentdebate. Nevertheless, since then, these studies and the generallimits-to-growth debate have probably helped questions on therelationship between economic growth and the environment to beincluded in several longitudinal opinion polls. For instance, a

Gallup

poll

conducted

in

the

US

since

1984

includes

one

question

that asks people whether their opinion is closer to one of thefollowing two statements: “ Protection of the environment shouldbe given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth or economic growth should be given priority, even if the environmentsuffers to some extent? ” (Gallup, 2014 ). In addition, a large-scaleinternational project like the European and World Values Survey(World Values Survey, 2015 ), which is conducted in more than80 countries, contains a similar question, which asks respondentsto choose between the statements: (a) “ Protecting the environ-ment should be given priority, even if it causes slower economicgrowth and some loss of jobs. ” , or (b) “ Economic growth andcreating jobs should be the top priority, even if the environmentsuffers to some extent. ”

There are several problems, however, with the format andwording of both survey questions cited above. First of all, theadopted dichotomous choice is misleading, because as we will seelater, one can think of more than just two positions in the growth-environment debate ( Mooij et al., 2002 ). It is also unclear what ismeant, or what people understand, by “ curbing ” or “ slower ”economic growth. Both terms suggest that growth, even though(s)lower, can continue and go together with environmentalprotection. Finally, the question from the World Values surveyincludes the phrases “ creating jobs ” and “ some loss of jobs ” . Since(un)employment is a very salient public issue, this wording mayfurther obscure the responses to this question, as one cannotdistinguish between people cognitively focusing more on “ jobs ”or on “ economic growth ” in arriving at their answers. Dunlap andYork (2008) have also noted the ambiguity of this surveyquestion.

To our knowledge, only Kaplowitz et al. (2013) go beyond thetypical question format and offered a third option: namely, anequal prioritization of economic growth and environmentalsustainability. They found that the majority of respondents optedfor this middle option. But also this study remains somewhatlimited, as it otherwise adopts the same response options andwording as in the WVS. More generally, Leiserowitz et al. (2005)note the lack of research trying to “ identify public attitudes or

preferences for particular levels or end-states of economicdevelopment (for example, in nite growth versus steady-stateeconomies). ” We can conclude that past research has not offered avery complete and balanced study of public views about economicgrowth and the environment. It is, therefore, useful and timely tostudy public attitudes and beliefs in a more comprehensive way,which is what we set out to do in the remainder of the paper.

3. Method

3.1. Survey sample and procedure

The questionnaire was developed early in 2014 over a period of half a year and re ned iteratively after various researchers andlaypeople provided feedback on subsequent versions. The datawas collected in July 2014 through a web-based questionnaire bythe professional survey company “ Netquest ” (for additionalinformation on the panel, see: http://www.netquest.com/en/panel/sample-calculator/statistical-calculators.html ). The surveyhad 1008 respondents which were obtained using a strati edrandom sampling technique. The average survey completion timewas 19min. Respondents were encouraged to participate in thesurvey by giving them a gift voucher. Comparison of the surveydata with census data from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (www.ine.es ), as well as with data on household incomefor Spain from the OECD (www.oecd.org ) shows that the survey isrepresentative of the Spanish population in terms of age,geographical regions, gender, educational attainment, and

2 S. Drews, J.C.J.M. van den Bergh / Global Environmental Change 39 (2016) 1– 14

http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247853008_The_Effect_of_Economic_Knowledge_on_Public_Opinion_of_Economic_Issues?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247853008_The_Effect_of_Economic_Knowledge_on_Public_Opinion_of_Economic_Issues?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247853008_The_Effect_of_Economic_Knowledge_on_Public_Opinion_of_Economic_Issues?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247853008_The_Effect_of_Economic_Knowledge_on_Public_Opinion_of_Economic_Issues?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4894688_Systematically_Biased_Beliefs_About_Economics_Robust_Evidence_of_Judgemental_Anomalies_from_the_Survey_of_Americans_and_Economists_on_the_Economy?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4894688_Systematically_Biased_Beliefs_About_Economics_Robust_Evidence_of_Judgemental_Anomalies_from_the_Survey_of_Americans_and_Economists_on_the_Economy?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4894688_Systematically_Biased_Beliefs_About_Economics_Robust_Evidence_of_Judgemental_Anomalies_from_the_Survey_of_Americans_and_Economists_on_the_Economy?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4733550_What_Does_the_Public_Know_about_Economic_Policy_and_How_Does_It_Know_It?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4733550_What_Does_the_Public_Know_about_Economic_Policy_and_How_Does_It_Know_It?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4733550_What_Does_the_Public_Know_about_Economic_Policy_and_How_Does_It_Know_It?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4733550_What_Does_the_Public_Know_about_Economic_Policy_and_How_Does_It_Know_It?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4733550_What_Does_the_Public_Know_about_Economic_Policy_and_How_Does_It_Know_It?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4733550_What_Does_the_Public_Know_about_Economic_Policy_and_How_Does_It_Know_It?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4733550_What_Does_the_Public_Know_about_Economic_Policy_and_How_Does_It_Know_It?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230518548_Beliefs_about_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230518548_Beliefs_about_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230518548_Beliefs_about_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230518548_Beliefs_about_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230518548_Beliefs_about_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230518548_Beliefs_about_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230518548_Beliefs_about_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225703076_Growth_and_the_Environment_in_Europe_A_Guide_to_the_Debate?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225703076_Growth_and_the_Environment_in_Europe_A_Guide_to_the_Debate?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225703076_Growth_and_the_Environment_in_Europe_A_Guide_to_the_Debate?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225703076_Growth_and_the_Environment_in_Europe_A_Guide_to_the_Debate?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225703076_Growth_and_the_Environment_in_Europe_A_Guide_to_the_Debate?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229664995_The_Globalization_of_Environmental_Concern_and_the_Limits_of_the_Post-Materialist_Values_Explanation_Evidence_From_four_Multinational_Surveys?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229664995_The_Globalization_of_Environmental_Concern_and_the_Limits_of_the_Post-Materialist_Values_Explanation_Evidence_From_four_Multinational_Surveys?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229664995_The_Globalization_of_Environmental_Concern_and_the_Limits_of_the_Post-Materialist_Values_Explanation_Evidence_From_four_Multinational_Surveys?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157984_Exploring_the_middle_ground_between_environmental_protection_and_economic_growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157984_Exploring_the_middle_ground_between_environmental_protection_and_economic_growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157984_Exploring_the_middle_ground_between_environmental_protection_and_economic_growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157984_Exploring_the_middle_ground_between_environmental_protection_and_economic_growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157984_Exploring_the_middle_ground_between_environmental_protection_and_economic_growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157984_Exploring_the_middle_ground_between_environmental_protection_and_economic_growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157984_Exploring_the_middle_ground_between_environmental_protection_and_economic_growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157984_Exploring_the_middle_ground_between_environmental_protection_and_economic_growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237517998_Do_Global_Attitudes_and_Behaviors_Support_Sustainable_Development?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237517998_Do_Global_Attitudes_and_Behaviors_Support_Sustainable_Development?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237517998_Do_Global_Attitudes_and_Behaviors_Support_Sustainable_Development?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237517998_Do_Global_Attitudes_and_Behaviors_Support_Sustainable_Development?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237517998_Do_Global_Attitudes_and_Behaviors_Support_Sustainable_Development?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237517998_Do_Global_Attitudes_and_Behaviors_Support_Sustainable_Development?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237517998_Do_Global_Attitudes_and_Behaviors_Support_Sustainable_Development?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://www.netquest.com/en/panel/sample-calculator/statistical-calculators.htmlhttp://www.netquest.com/en/panel/sample-calculator/statistical-calculators.htmlhttp://www.ine.es/http://www.oecd.org/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247853008_The_Effect_of_Economic_Knowledge_on_Public_Opinion_of_Economic_Issues?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225703076_Growth_and_the_Environment_in_Europe_A_Guide_to_the_Debate?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237517998_Do_Global_Attitudes_and_Behaviors_Support_Sustainable_Development?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157984_Exploring_the_middle_ground_between_environmental_protection_and_economic_growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229664995_The_Globalization_of_Environmental_Concern_and_the_Limits_of_the_Post-Materialist_Values_Explanation_Evidence_From_four_Multinational_Surveys?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230518548_Beliefs_about_Economic_Growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4894688_Systematically_Biased_Beliefs_About_Economics_Robust_Evidence_of_Judgemental_Anomalies_from_the_Survey_of_Americans_and_Economists_on_the_Economy?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4894688_Systematically_Biased_Beliefs_About_Economics_Robust_Evidence_of_Judgemental_Anomalies_from_the_Survey_of_Americans_and_Economists_on_the_Economy?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4733550_What_Does_the_Public_Know_about_Economic_Policy_and_How_Does_It_Know_It?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://www.oecd.org/http://www.ine.es/http://www.netquest.com/en/panel/sample-calculator/statistical-calculators.htmlhttp://www.netquest.com/en/panel/sample-calculator/statistical-calculators.htmlhttp://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-

8/17/2019 Public Views Growth vs Env_rg

4/15

median household income. Descriptive statistics are presented inthe block of sociodemographic variables of Table 1.

3.2. Dependent variables

We formulated 22 items aimed at covering the main aspects of the economic growth debate. They are largely derived from theliterature on economic growth as referred to earlier in Sections 1and 2 . An introductory sentence in the questionnaire emphasizedthat all statements applied generally to rich industrializedcountries. Participants could respond on 7-point Likert scales,ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. The set of questions included both positive and negative formulationsassociated with economic growth.

Next, we elicited the respondents ’ beliefs about when theythink economic growth in rich industrialized countries may cometo an end. The six available answer categories ranged from “ in lessthan 10 years ” to “ never ” . As a follow-up question, thoserespondents who believed that the economy may stop growingat some point were asked to give one main and several additionalreasons for why growth may end. A list of reasons was provided,accompanied by an open-response eld to enter further reasons.Aside from standard reasons as featured in the classic limits togrowth debate (e.g. the scarcity of material and energy resources,environmental problems), the list was supplemented by reasons of a social and economic nature. These are loosely based on Gordon ’s(2012) set of “ headwinds ” for US economic growth (e.g. slowdownof technological advances). In the same way, those respondentswho answered that growth may “ never ” end were directed to adifferent set of reasons to justify their beliefs.

We further asked participants which position concerning therelationship between economic growth and the environment theyfavor. To go beyond the typical dichotomous choice format of growth-versus-environment as discussed in Section 2 (e.g. theWorld Values Survey), we offered four positions motivated by thefollowing considerations. The rst position clearly prioritizeseconomic growth, as it has been shown that some people express

climate change skepticism (e.g. Whitmarsh, 2011; McCright andDunlap, 2011), or even a general environmental skepticism (Zhou,2015 ). The second position relates to the narrative of “ sustainable ”or “ green growth ” , representing the belief that economic growthand environmental sustainability are compatible. This has beenadvocated in academic and policy circles (e.g., Bowen andFankhauser, 2011; OECD 2015a ). The third position is based onthe argument that economic growth should be ignored and notserve as an aim in public policy, hence making it easier to combineenvironmental and welfare goals (van den Bergh, 2011 ; and seealso Jakob and Edenhofer, 2014 ). The fourth position re ects theassertion that economic growth should be stopped and evenreversed to achieve environmental sustainability (Schneider et al.,2010; Kallis, 2011 ). It should be noted that there are variousinterpretations of “ degrowth ” (van den Bergh, 2011 ). The wordingused in our questionnaire closely follows Schneider et al. (2010) .Hereafter we use the following labels to refer to the four positions: growth-at-all-costs ; green growth ; agrowth ; and degrowth . Note thatin the questionnaire itself no such labels were used to describe thefour positions. The exact wording of each position is presented inAppendix A.

Related to the previous item, we additionally measured publicattitudes toward economic growth by asking respondents “ Whatrate of economic growth should the government of a richindustrialized country aim for? ” . Here they could enter a roundnumber between 7% and 7%.

3.3. Independent variables

To examine individual-level variation in public views concern-ing economic growth and the environment, we focus on three setsof explanatory variables: (i) knowledge about the economy and theenvironment; (ii) ideology and personal values; and (iii) socio-demographic variables. In addition, two variables are used tocontrol for possible in uences of the economic crisis. Table 1provides the descriptive statistics and the coding for each of thevariables we employ in the analyses.

Table 1Overview and descriptive statistics of the independent variables.

Variables Description Mean (SD) or%

Socio-demographicGender Dummy: 1 (female) 50.7%Age 18 to 64 years 40.14

(12.57)Household income 1 ( 1000 s ) to 5 ( 3000 s ) 2.88 (1.34)Educational attainment 1 (primary education) to 4 (postgraduate degree) 2.60 (0.76)Employed Dummy: 1 (yes) 62.1%

KnowledgeGDP knowledge Index of six questions (see Table A1 in the Appendix), 0 (0 correct answers) to 6 (6 correct

answers)1.32 (1.33)

Self-rated knowledge about the economy 1 (not at all informed) to 7 (very well informed) 4.52 (1.29)Self-rated knowledge about the environment 1 (not at all informed) to 7 (very well informed) 4.35 (1.29)

Personal values, and political and religious ideologyReligiosity 1 (not religious) to 5 (very religious) 2.09 (1.16)Political orientation 1 (left-wing) to 9 (right-wing) 3.98 (1.99)Self-enhancement values (power, achievement,

hedonism)0 (the value is opposed to my principles) to 8 (the value is of supreme importance as a guidingprinciple in my life)

3.42 (1.73)

Self-transcendence values (universalism, benevolence) 0 (opposed to my principles) to 8 (supreme importance as a guiding principle in my life) 5.98 (1.61)Conservation values (tradition, conformity, security) 0 (opposed to my principles) to 8 (supreme importance as a guiding principle in my life) 5.19 (1.67)Environmental values (respect for the Earth,

environmental protection)0 (opposed to my principles) to 8 (supreme importance as a guiding principle in my life) 6.03 (1.67)

Economic crisis in SpainPersonal impact crisis 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree) 5.70 (1.42)Crisis in uenced response 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree) 5.37 (1.39)

–!>

S. Drews, J.C.J.M. van den Bergh / Global Environmental Change 39 (2016) 1– 14 3

http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/220040302_Scepticism_and_Uncertainty_about_Climate_Change_Dimensions_Determinants_and_Change_over_Time?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/220040302_Scepticism_and_Uncertainty_about_Climate_Change_Dimensions_Determinants_and_Change_over_Time?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/220040302_Scepticism_and_Uncertainty_about_Climate_Change_Dimensions_Determinants_and_Change_over_Time?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/220040302_Scepticism_and_Uncertainty_about_Climate_Change_Dimensions_Determinants_and_Change_over_Time?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244062439_Cool_dudes_The_denial_of_climate_change_among_conservative_white_males_in_the_United_States?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244062439_Cool_dudes_The_denial_of_climate_change_among_conservative_white_males_in_the_United_States?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244062439_Cool_dudes_The_denial_of_climate_change_among_conservative_white_males_in_the_United_States?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244062439_Cool_dudes_The_denial_of_climate_change_among_conservative_white_males_in_the_United_States?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244062439_Cool_dudes_The_denial_of_climate_change_among_conservative_white_males_in_the_United_States?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244062439_Cool_dudes_The_denial_of_climate_change_among_conservative_white_males_in_the_United_States?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222822294_Environment_versus_growth_-_A_criticism_of_degrowth_and_a_plea_for_a-growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222822294_Environment_versus_growth_-_A_criticism_of_degrowth_and_a_plea_for_a-growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251624314_The_Green_Growth_Narrative_Paradigm_Shift_or_Just_Spin?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251624314_The_Green_Growth_Narrative_Paradigm_Shift_or_Just_Spin?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251624314_The_Green_Growth_Narrative_Paradigm_Shift_or_Just_Spin?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251624314_The_Green_Growth_Narrative_Paradigm_Shift_or_Just_Spin?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251624314_The_Green_Growth_Narrative_Paradigm_Shift_or_Just_Spin?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251624314_The_Green_Growth_Narrative_Paradigm_Shift_or_Just_Spin?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251624314_The_Green_Growth_Narrative_Paradigm_Shift_or_Just_Spin?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272386452_Green_growth_degrowth_and_the_commons?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272386452_Green_growth_degrowth_and_the_commons?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272386452_Green_growth_degrowth_and_the_commons?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272386452_Green_growth_degrowth_and_the_commons?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272386452_Green_growth_degrowth_and_the_commons?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272386452_Green_growth_degrowth_and_the_commons?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272386452_Green_growth_degrowth_and_the_commons?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227414533_In_Defence_of_Degrowth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227414533_In_Defence_of_Degrowth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227414533_In_Defence_of_Degrowth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222822294_Environment_versus_growth_-_A_criticism_of_degrowth_and_a_plea_for_a-growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222822294_Environment_versus_growth_-_A_criticism_of_degrowth_and_a_plea_for_a-growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222822294_Environment_versus_growth_-_A_criticism_of_degrowth_and_a_plea_for_a-growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222822294_Environment_versus_growth_-_A_criticism_of_degrowth_and_a_plea_for_a-growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222822294_Environment_versus_growth_-_A_criticism_of_degrowth_and_a_plea_for_a-growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222822294_Environment_versus_growth_-_A_criticism_of_degrowth_and_a_plea_for_a-growth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/220040302_Scepticism_and_Uncertainty_about_Climate_Change_Dimensions_Determinants_and_Change_over_Time?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341988_Crisis_or_opportuniy_Economic_degrowth_for_social_equity_and_ecological_sustainability_Introduction_to_this_special_issue?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244062439_Cool_dudes_The_denial_of_climate_change_among_conservative_white_males_in_the_United_States?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244062439_Cool_dudes_The_denial_of_climate_change_among_conservative_white_males_in_the_United_States?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227414533_In_Defence_of_Degrowth?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272386452_Green_growth_degrowth_and_the_commons?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251624314_The_Green_Growth_Narrative_Paradigm_Shift_or_Just_Spin?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251624314_The_Green_Growth_Narrative_Paradigm_Shift_or_Just_Spin?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-a9fa9376-d7e4-412b-8497-e8fabd0b9de0&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMwMTM1MjgxNDtBUzozNTI1ODY2MTI5MjAzMjBAMTQ2MTA3NDYwNzQ4OQ==http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-

8/17/2019 Public Views Growth vs Env_rg

5/15

Six questions were designed to obtain a picture of people ’sknowledge about the GDP. Most of these questions were based onoften-voiced criticisms regarding the estimation of the GDP metric.Examples of these criticisms are the lack of accounting forenvironmental damages and the depletion of natural resources, orsocial (e.g. income inequality) costs (e.g. van den Bergh, 2009;Kubiszewski et al., 201 3). Response options ranged from “ de nitelyfalse ” , “ probably false ” , “ probably true ” to “ de nitely true ” , andincluded a “ don ’t know ” option. All questions and the descriptivestatistics are displayed in Appendix A. On the basis of theresponses, we constructed a GDP knowledge index for eachrespondent: namely, by counting the number of correct (“ de nite-ly” false/true) answers to the six questions. This results in a meanscore of 1.32 (SD = 1.33) on scale from 0 to 6 correct answers.Cronbach ’s alpha test of internal consistency is 0.56, a value thathas been regarded as acceptable in past research for tests of economic knowledge with similar numbers of items (e.g. Walstadand Rebeck, 2002; Walstad et al., 2010 ). The resulting GDPknowledge scale is used in subsequent analyses reported below. Itshould be noted that we do not use both “ de nitely ” and“ probably ” false/true responses to count correct answers, becauseit results in a signi cantly lower Cronbach ’s alpha (0.43).

In addition to the index of assessed GDP knowledge, two furthersingle items measured self-reported knowledge about theenvironment (e.g. McCright and Dunlap, 2011; Whitmarsh, 2011 )

and the economy (e.g., Blinder and Krueger, 2004; Wobker et al.,2014 ). Having measures of both assessed and self-reportedknowledge is useful, since prior research has sometimes foundweak relationships between the two concepts (Stoutenboroughand Vedlitz, 2013; Wobker et al., 2014 ).

Two single items are used to measure the effects of politicalorientation and religiosity, respectively. Note that we did not askfor a speci c religious af liation, given that Roman Catholicism isby far the largest religious community in Spain (CIS, 2014 ). Havingreligious faith has been shown to be related to both economic andenvironmental attitudes. For example, Guiso et al. (2003) nd thatreligious beliefs are associated with economic attitudes which are“ conducive to higher per capita income and growth ” . As regardsthe environment, empirical research remains inconclusive aboutthe direction of the relationship between (Christian) religiosity andenvironmental concern and behavior (Gifford and Nilsson, 201 4).Political orientation has been shown to in uence both economicopinions (e.g. Blinder and Krueger, 2004 ) and environmentalopinions (e.g. McCright and Dunlap, 2011 ).

Next, we measured respondents ’ personal values. Schwartz(1992) developed a theory of basic human values which includePower, Achievement, Hedonism, Stimulation, Self-direction, Uni-versalism, Benevolence, Tradition, Conformity and Security (seealso, Schwartz, 1992 ). We used a short version of the Schwartzvalue survey comprising 10 items. The reliability and validity of

Table 2Factor analysis examining the structure of attitudes towards economic growth.

Item Item wording Factor loadings

1 2 3 4 5 6

Job creation Economic growth is necessary to create jobs. 0.845 0.038 0.078 0.161 0.054 0.039Life satisfaction Continued economic growth is essential for improving people ’s life satisfaction. 0.811 0.031 0.006 0.083 0.029 0.028Health and

pensionEconomic growth is necessary to nance public health and pension systems. 0.784 0.021 0.069 0.004 0.112 0.078

Stability Without economic growth the economy will become less stable. 0.745 0.011 0.086 0.001 0.078 0.021Environmental

protectionEconomic growth is necessary to nance environmental protection. 0.638 0.041 0.294 0.039 0.15 0.088

Fullemployment Full

employment

can

be

achieved

without

economic

growth.

0.626

0.2

0.197

0.076

0.134

0.207

Prosperity Economic growth is the best indicator of prosperity. 0.499 0.143 0.147 0.196 0.275 0.283Good life A ‘good life ’ without economic growth is possible. 0.493 0.169 0.159 0.269 0.179 0.036Climate limit Climate change and other environmental problems will sooner or later result in an end to

economic growth.0.041 0.777 0.136 0.051 0.07 0.034

Resource limit Limited availability of natural resources (e.g. oil, gas) will sooner or later result in an end toeconomic growth.

0.203 0.708 0.161 0.186 0.353 0.166

Energyrebound

Energy savings due to technological advances are partly undone by further economic growth. 0.059 0.621 0.094 0.03 0.062 0.155

Environmentaldamage

Economic growth always harms the environment. 0.078 0.563 0.083 0.006 0.195 0.018

Developmentspace

In view of limited natural resources, rich countries may have to give up their economic growthto assure that all poor people in the world can reach a fair standard of living.

0016 0.477 0109 0075 0.345 0.132

Techno- x Technology can solve all environmental problems associated with economic growth. 0.055 0.111 0.688 0.125 0.145 0.176Recovery Future economic growth will recover and again be as high as in the past. 0.002 0.031 0.647 0.159 0.375 0.07Post-

materialismEconomic growth raises incomes which in turn make people care more about the environment. 0.158 0.162 0.582 0.295 0.042 0.133

Excessive newsattention

The news media pay too much attention to GDP and its growth. 0.117 0.035 0.107 0.726 0.07 0.047

Excessivepoliticalattention

Pol