Economic growth by waste generation: The dynamics of a vicious circle

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explain the overall shape of the waste stream of durable goods in the US economy. For this purpose we construct an agent-based model of economic growth and waste generation and compare this latter variable to the amount of waste of durables generated in the USA between 1960 and 2008. The model highlights a particularly vicious circle in which waste generation becomes a positive factor of economic growth. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.