Ali Qamar, Anwar Sofia, Khan Muhammad Tariq Iqbal, Yaseen Muhammad Rizwan, Ashfaq Muhammad
Department of Economics, Virtual University of Pakistan, Faisalabad Campus, 38000, Pakistan.
Department of Economics, Government Graduate College, Jaranwala, 37200, Pakistan.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Feb;30(10):26819-26842. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-23894-w. Epub 2022 Nov 12.
In the recent era, economic growth is not enough to represent sustainable development. Sustainable development has three dimensions (i.e., economic, social, and environment). This study estimated the economic, social, and environmental efficiency using data from 2000 to 2021. Input-oriented data envelopment analysis shows strong heterogeneity across developed (G-8) and developing countries (SAARC). There is a potential to increase economic and environmental efficiency in the G-8 and SAARC countries. The average economic efficiencies are 0.682 and 0.414, which implies the possibility of the same output (GDP/capita) by using 31.8% and 58.6% fewer inputs in G-8 and SAARC countries, respectively. The social efficiency score is more than 0.980 in both panels. The average environmental efficiencies are 0.712 and 0.724, which implies that selected countries can obtain the same output (CO emission reduction) by using 28.8% and 27.6% fewer inputs in G-8 and SAARC countries, respectively. The top three economically efficient countries are (a) the USA, the UK, and Japan in the G-8 panel and (b) Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in the SAARC panel. The top three environmentally efficient countries are (a) France, the UK, and Italy in the G-8 panel and (b) Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh in the SAARC panel. It is recommended to adopt suitable policies to reduce emission, minimize waste, efficient utilization of resources, increase forest cover, and incentive for clean technologies. It is suggested to promote renewable energy through the provision of micro-credit to the poor, subsidizing renewable energy technologies, implementation of stringent environmental policies, and increasing awareness. It is essential to invest in eco-friendly and innovative technologies; thus, the government should encourage green practices in production. Human development is recommended to increase the living standard and healthy life. The government should invest in the health system and conduct seminars on general health awareness. Investment in basic infrastructure (drinking water, sanitation, and clean fuel) is essential to increase the living standard. The G-8 countries should provide financial and technological help to the SAARC countries.
在当今时代，经济增长不足以代表可持续发展。可持续发展有三个维度（即经济、社会和环境）。本研究利用2000年至2021年的数据估算了经济、社会和环境效率。面向投入的数据 envelopment 分析显示，发达经济体（八国集团）和发展中国家（南盟）之间存在很强的异质性。八国集团和南盟国家在提高经济和环境效率方面具有潜力。平均经济效率分别为0.682和0.414，这意味着八国集团和南盟国家分别通过减少31.8%和58.6%的投入就能实现相同的产出（人均国内生产总值）。两个面板中的社会效率得分均超过0.980。平均环境效率分别为0.712和0.724，这意味着八国集团和南盟国家分别通过减少28.8%和27.6%的投入就能获得相同的产出（减少二氧化碳排放）。经济效率最高的前三个国家是：（a）八国集团面板中的美国、英国和日本，以及（b）南盟面板中的马尔代夫、斯里兰卡和巴基斯坦。环境效率最高的前三个国家是：（a）八国集团面板中的法国、英国和意大利，以及（b）南盟面板中的阿富汗、尼泊尔和孟加拉国。建议采取适当政策以减少排放、减少浪费、高效利用资源、增加森林覆盖并鼓励采用清洁技术。建议通过向贫困人口提供小额信贷、补贴可再生能源技术、实施严格的环境政策以及提高认识来促进可再生能源发展。投资于生态友好型和创新技术至关重要；因此政府应鼓励生产中的绿色实践。建议通过人类发展提高生活水平和健康生活质量。政府应投资于卫生系统并举办关于一般健康意识的研讨会。投资于基本基础设施（饮用水、卫生设施和清洁燃料）对于提高生活水平至关重要。八国集团国家应向南盟国家提供财政和技术援助。
