Abstract

After a brief review of the literature on ecologically sustainable economic growth models, the paper provides some considerations on dematerialization and sheds some light on how it can become an engine of sustainable growth. Despite the proliferation of studies on ecologically sustainable economic growth theories and models, the debate on the design and implementation of green economic policies still lacks a shared basis and a truly comprehensive and integrated vision. We think that, from the theoretical point of view, this is due, at least in part, to an inadequate interaction among managerial, growth economic and industrial ecology literature. After a brief review of the literature on ecologically sustainable economic growth models, the paper provides some considerations on dematerialization and sheds some light on how it can become an engine of sustainable growth. Despite the proliferation of studies on ecologically sustainable economic growth theories and models, the debate on the design and implementation of green economic policies still lacks a shared basis and a truly comprehensive and integrated vision. We think that, from the theoretical point of view, this is due, at least in part, to an inadequate interaction among managerial, growth economic and industrial ecology literature.