Family expenditure on food

Country Per capita expenditure on self (U.S.S) Share spent on food (%) 

This unhealthy level of consumption results in enhanced impacts on the environment and natural resources. Almost all ecosystems in the world have been impacted. An indicator of the impact on global ecosystems called the ecological imprint has been introduced. This characterizes the size of productive land area needed to ensure 

The continuing growth of consumption in developed countries, on the one hand, and the respective serious negative aspects, on the other hand, throw up a few questions. 

The concept of consumption society economics based on unlimited consumption clearly cannot work because of the unavoidable environmental consequences. Realization of such a concept would break economical, ecological, and social limitations (thresholds). The main conclusion is that there is no hope for the consumption society. 

Let us now analyze the state of some of the most important systems of life support, such as freshwater and energy supplies. Freshwater attracts a lot of attention since, on the one hand, water is a key component of ecosystems and, on the other hand, about one-third of the global population will experience a deficit of water at some 

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In addition to Sub-Saharan Africa being a disaster-prone region, the level of consumption there in 2001 was 20% lower than in any year of the two previous decades. According to available estimates, the number of consumers will at least double by 2015. Table 7.14 illustrates the number of consumers in ten representative countries in 2002, and Table 7.15 family expenditure on food in different countries in 1998. 

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