The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian Economy

A systemic approach to sustainability is suggested where the society-environment relationship is conceived in terms of complex, open systems. The sustainability of the relationship between society and the environment can be analyzed with the help of Material Flow Analysis (MFA). MFA reveals aspects...

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Main Authors: José Alberto da Costa Machado, Norbert Fenzl, Armin Mathis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Paderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research Group 2008-07-01
Series:tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/11
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author José Alberto da Costa Machado
Norbert Fenzl
Armin Mathis
author_facet José Alberto da Costa Machado
Norbert Fenzl
Armin Mathis
author_sort José Alberto da Costa Machado
collection DOAJ
description A systemic approach to sustainability is suggested where the society-environment relationship is conceived in terms of complex, open systems. The sustainability of the relationship between society and the environment can be analyzed with the help of Material Flow Analysis (MFA). MFA reveals aspects of the economy that concern its relationship to the environment and can't be covered by monetary analyses. In this work material flows and their resulting indicators for the Brazilian economy from 1975 to 1995 are presented. The results show that the Brazilian economy in 1995 became much more intensive in material than in 1975. This development is in line with a global trend of material consumption becoming more intensive and unsustainable. The global economic system has not diminished its size, but expanded its consumption drive in relation to the environment.
format Article
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publishDate 2008-07-01
publisher Paderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research Group
record_format Article
series tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique
spelling doaj-art-e1b7b837fc764aebbb34535065a0ff012025-08-20T03:38:49ZengPaderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research GrouptripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique1726-670X2008-07-012110.31269/triplec.v2i1.1111The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian EconomyJosé Alberto da Costa MachadoNorbert FenzlArmin MathisA systemic approach to sustainability is suggested where the society-environment relationship is conceived in terms of complex, open systems. The sustainability of the relationship between society and the environment can be analyzed with the help of Material Flow Analysis (MFA). MFA reveals aspects of the economy that concern its relationship to the environment and can't be covered by monetary analyses. In this work material flows and their resulting indicators for the Brazilian economy from 1975 to 1995 are presented. The results show that the Brazilian economy in 1995 became much more intensive in material than in 1975. This development is in line with a global trend of material consumption becoming more intensive and unsustainable. The global economic system has not diminished its size, but expanded its consumption drive in relation to the environment.https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/11sustainabilitysustainable developmentsystems theoryopen systemsmaterial flow analysis (MFA)
spellingShingle José Alberto da Costa Machado
Norbert Fenzl
Armin Mathis
The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian Economy
tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique
sustainability
sustainable development
systems theory
open systems
material flow analysis (MFA)
title The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian Economy
title_full The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian Economy
title_fullStr The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian Economy
title_full_unstemmed The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian Economy
title_short The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian Economy
title_sort sustainability of complex economic systems an application of national material flow analysis mfa to the brazilian economy
topic sustainability
sustainable development
systems theory
open systems
material flow analysis (MFA)
url https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/11
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