ELI Research Brief #5 - Turning Points: The Development-Environment Relationship

Author
Anne S. Forrest, Environmental Law Institute
Date Released
December 1995

Out Of Print

Can countries outgrow their environmental problems? Some policy makers believe development may help a country`s environment, contrary to conventional wisdom. Pollution may increase at first, they say, but eventually a society will become rich enough to invest in control measures and there will be a "turning point," leading to a drop. But ELI`s Turning Points declares that it is not yet possible to tell whether countries may be able to outgrow their problems. The Brief discusses the results of studies that look at a country`s level of developments--measured by per capita income--and levels of specific pollutants.