An axiomatic characterization of a generalized ecological footprint

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to propose an axiomatic characterization of ecological footprint indices. Using an axiomatic approach, we define a set of axioms representing the properties considered appropriate to ecological footprint measures in general. It can be shown that there exists a generalized index which is given by an arbitrary affine transformation of the land area appropriated to provide a country's share of consumption on world production. The footprint of a subset of countries is given by the sum of the individual footprints. As an implication, the well-known compound-based footprint index used by the Global Footprint Network can be characterized as a specification of the generalized index by an appropriate affine transformation. With respect to empirical applications the proposition of generalized and axiomatically characterized measures for the ecological burden by human activity may be considered as the main contribution of the paper.