Abstract
Are developed countries responsible for environmental deterioration? Do developing countries have the right to pollute more? The paper refuses this hypothesis and shows that a dynamic of growth aimed towards consistent development in low income areas has to be necessarily sustainable; otherwise, it can undermine a country’s development path. The paper surveys mainstream development economics theory and argues that there is a consistent relation between development and environmental standards. It is pointed out the problem that many underdeveloped countries face when trying to get out of a low income development trap and the consequences of these traps over its wealth (which includes natural capital); this wealth is precisely the main factor determining the capacity of a country to generate income in the future. Thus, an in depth knowledge of development traps dynamics is needed to prevent environmental deterioration from happening.
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