Does ICT result in dematerialization? The case of Europe, 2005-2017

Current levels of resource use are unsustainable, but there is a debate about the most feasible way to reduce them. One proposed mechanism is technological innovation: specifically, the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) could result in significant reductions in mate...

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Main Author: RIEGER, Annika Marie
Format: text
Language:English
Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2021
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Online Access:https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3857
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/5115/viewcontent/Rieger_ICT_Dematerialization_av.pdf
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spelling sg-smu-ink.soss_research-51152024-01-04T07:26:00Z Does ICT result in dematerialization? The case of Europe, 2005-2017 RIEGER, Annika Marie Current levels of resource use are unsustainable, but there is a debate about the most feasible way to reduce them. One proposed mechanism is technological innovation: specifically, the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) could result in significant reductions in material consumption by substituting virtual for material goods, increasing resource efficiency, and replacing more resource-intensive sectors. Critics of this view argue that dematerialization due to ICTs is unlikely: they consume large amounts of resources and encourage additional consumption. Additionally, increased efficiency resulting from ICT use could lead to rebound effects, reducing their environmentally beneficial impact. This paper uses a novel measure–material flows–to investigate the relationship between ICTs and material consumption. I use a Prais-Winsten regression model to examine this relationship in twenty-five European nations from 2005 to 2017. Despite both expectations that increased technological innovation will reduce materials use, as well as opposing expectations that it will increase material use, I find no relationship between ICT use and material consumption at the national level. This suggests both patterns are likely possible: increased material use and ICT consumption is balanced by the increased efficiency of ICTs and reduced materials requirements. 2021-01-01T08:00:00Z text application/pdf https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3857 info:doi/10.1080/23251042.2020.1824289 https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/5115/viewcontent/Rieger_ICT_Dematerialization_av.pdf http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Research Collection School of Social Sciences eng Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Information and communication technology (ICT) dematerialization material consumption environment sustainability material flows Communication Technology and New Media Eastern European Studies Sociology
institution Singapore Management University
building SMU Libraries
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider SMU Libraries
collection InK@SMU
language English
topic Information and communication technology (ICT)
dematerialization
material consumption
environment
sustainability
material flows
Communication Technology and New Media
Eastern European Studies
Sociology
spellingShingle Information and communication technology (ICT)
dematerialization
material consumption
environment
sustainability
material flows
Communication Technology and New Media
Eastern European Studies
Sociology
RIEGER, Annika Marie
Does ICT result in dematerialization? The case of Europe, 2005-2017
description Current levels of resource use are unsustainable, but there is a debate about the most feasible way to reduce them. One proposed mechanism is technological innovation: specifically, the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) could result in significant reductions in material consumption by substituting virtual for material goods, increasing resource efficiency, and replacing more resource-intensive sectors. Critics of this view argue that dematerialization due to ICTs is unlikely: they consume large amounts of resources and encourage additional consumption. Additionally, increased efficiency resulting from ICT use could lead to rebound effects, reducing their environmentally beneficial impact. This paper uses a novel measure–material flows–to investigate the relationship between ICTs and material consumption. I use a Prais-Winsten regression model to examine this relationship in twenty-five European nations from 2005 to 2017. Despite both expectations that increased technological innovation will reduce materials use, as well as opposing expectations that it will increase material use, I find no relationship between ICT use and material consumption at the national level. This suggests both patterns are likely possible: increased material use and ICT consumption is balanced by the increased efficiency of ICTs and reduced materials requirements.
format text
author RIEGER, Annika Marie
author_facet RIEGER, Annika Marie
author_sort RIEGER, Annika Marie
title Does ICT result in dematerialization? The case of Europe, 2005-2017
title_short Does ICT result in dematerialization? The case of Europe, 2005-2017
title_full Does ICT result in dematerialization? The case of Europe, 2005-2017
title_fullStr Does ICT result in dematerialization? The case of Europe, 2005-2017
title_full_unstemmed Does ICT result in dematerialization? The case of Europe, 2005-2017
title_sort does ict result in dematerialization? the case of europe, 2005-2017
publisher Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University
publishDate 2021
url https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3857
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/5115/viewcontent/Rieger_ICT_Dematerialization_av.pdf
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