Factors influencing the material footprint in the USA

Abstract

Using novel approaches, namely Fourier autoregressive distributive lag (F‐ADL) cointegration and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (N‐ARDL), this article analyzes how infrastructure investment and environmental R&D affected the material footprint from 1995Q1 to 2019Q4 in the USA while controlling financial development and economic growth. The outcomes reveal that (i) a reduction in the material footprint can be achieved through increasing environmentally related R&D; (ii) by increasing the environmental R&D, material consumption can be used more effectively; (iii) an increase in financial development leads to an increase in the material footprint; and (iv) the slowdown of the economy contributes to efficient material consumption. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1–8. © 2024 SETAC