The use of input-output analysis to allocate ecological footprints across consumption categories
Student name: Ms Ashmita Bandyopadhyay
Guide: Dr Kavita Sardana
Year of completion: 2018
Host Organisation: TERI School of Advanced Studies
Abstract: The concept of Ecological footprint is based on the paradigm of strong sustainability that argues
that natural capital is not completely substitutable by human capital i.e. there exists certain
binding resource constraint (H. Daly 1990). It was thus developed as an index which measures
resource constraint, and it uses limited natural capital (i.e. land) to derive an indicator for
environmental pressure of economic activity. It was initially comprehended as a simple and
elegant tool to measure sustainability of resource consumption pattern among different population
(Lenzen and Murray 2003). However it has often been scrutinized by researchers and policy
makers for not providing a quantitative data representing specific reasons for unsustainability and
thus not being appropriate for formulating targeted policy response. In response to this the
concept has undergone many changes like the use of Input-Output analysis, use of land
disturbance as proxy indicator, structural path analysis etc. This paper tries to use the concept of
ecological footprint mainstream in economic decision making by combining the national footprint
account with Input-Output analysis to understand the pressure of consumption pattern for India.
This method enables reallocation of the existing footprint across industries which can help
enhance the understanding of the current problems in the consumption pattern and hence enables
an informed and targeted decision making.
Keywords: Ecological footprint; Input–output analysis; Sustainable Consumption.
