Question

A nations population size and the affluence of its citizens each influence its resource consumption and environmental impact. As of 2019, the world’s population passed 7.76 billion, average per capita income was $15,415 per year, and the latest estimate for the worlds average ecological footprint is 2.8 hectares per person. The sampling of data in the table will allow you to explore patterns in how population, affluence, and environmental impact are related.

Nation	Population (millions of people)	Affluence (per capita income, in GNI PPP)	Personal impact (per capita footprint, in ha/person)	Total impact (national footprint, in millions of ha)
Belgium	11.3	$44,100	7.4	83.6
Brazil	206.1	$15,020	3.1	638.9
China	1378	$14,160	3.4	4685.2
Ethiopia	101.7	$1,620	1.0	101.7
India	1328.9	$6,020	1.2	1594.7
Japan	125.3	$38,870	5.0	626.5
Mexico	128.6	$17,150	2.9	372.9
Russia	144.3	$23,790	5.7	822.5
United States	323.9	$56,430	8.2	2656

1. Calculate the total environmental impact (national ecological footprint) for each country. Multiply column 1 (population) by Personal Impact (column 3).`

2. Which Country has the greatest IPAT? Why? Incorporate Population Size, Affluence and Footprint into your answer.

3. Which Country has the lowest IPAT? Why? Incorporate Population Size, Affluence and Footprint into your answer.

4. Compare Belgium and the US -both have the two highest Affluence, which are quite similar ($ 56K vs. $ 44K). The Personal Impact for both countries also is similar (8.2 vs. 7.4, respectively) yet the US has a population roughly 30x larger. In this example, what factor do you think (Affluence, Population size, or Personal Impact) carries the most weight in terms of influencing the Total National Impact/Ecological Footprint.

Answer 1

IPAT Equation (I) = Population * Affluence * Technology

Nation	Population	Affluence	Personal impact	Total impact
Belgium	(millions of people)	(per capita income, in GNI PPP)	(per capita footprint, in ha/person)	(national footprint, in millions of ha)	IPAT
Brazil	206.1	$15,020	3.1	638.9	$9,596,428
China	1378	$14,160	3.4	4685.2	$66,342,432
Ethiopia	101.7	$1,620	1	101.7	$164,754
India	1328.9	$6,020	1.2	1594.7	$9,599,974
Japan	125.3	$38,870	5	626.5	$24,352,055
Mexico	128.6	$17,150	2.9	372.9	$6,395,921
Russia	144.3	$23,790	5.7	822.5	$19,567,513
United States	323.9	$56,430	8.2	2656	$149,876,951

United States has got the highest IPAT. The main contributing factor is 'Affluence' (per capita income) because economic activity is highest in United States. The increased per capita income leads to increased consumption, and new set of consumers originate.

Ethiopia has got the lowest IPAT. The reason being same again that per capita income; 'Affluence' is lowest in Ethiopia. The per capita income being low consumption will remain low and hence, level of economic activity will also be low.

Belgium and United States have got highest Affluence ($ 56K vs. $ 44K) and Personal Impact for both countries also is similar (8.2 vs. 7.4, respectively). Population size is larger in US because of Affluence that is, larger purchasing power creates demand for comforts and luxuries. After fulfilling the necessities, population makes demand for comforts and above that, demand for luxury goods for example, golf clubs. The increased demand leads to following of demonstration effect in the economy. People having low income starts moving into the countries having larger purchasing power and their standard of living rises and as a result, the population increases.Thus, population factor carries the most weight in influencing Total National Impact.