ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT, ENVIRONMENTAL INTENSITY AND INCOME INEQUALITY

This paper examines as to how the resources are used in the form of total ecological and CO2 footprints, environment intensity and income inequality distributed in the period 2003-2011, between high and middle income countries, by using the Atkinson Index. From the findings, it is revealed that high income countries have greater demand for total ecological and CO2 footprints than the middle income countries, which leads to generate more pronounce difference in its per capita income and the environment intensity. The estimated values of Atkinson Index demonstrate that reduction in distribution of environmental intensity and the per capita income inequality in these regions will lead to reduce its demand for total ecological and CO2 footprints and consequently the environmental sustainability will improve.

Key words: Ecological Footprint; Environmental Impact Intensity; Income Inequality.