On 21st October 2024, the School of Economics at the University of Hyderabad hosted its Foundation Day Lecture, featuring distinguished economist Dr. Amitabh Kundu, Distinguished Professor at Research and Information Systems in New Delhi and former Dean of SSS, JNU. Dr. Kundu delivered a compelling lecture titled “Emerging Global Scenario of Resource Use and Environmental Inequality: Areas of Concern.” The session was chaired by Prof. B.J. Rao, Vice Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad. The lecture was part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the university, supported by the Institution of Eminence Directorate.
Viplavi Vinod Joshi, a second-year MA Economics student, welcomed the dignitaries and the speaker. Prof. R. Vijay opened the event by welcoming the dignitaries, followed by remarks from Prof. Debashis Acharya, who highlighted the achievements of the school, and an introduction of the speaker by Prof. Alok Kumar Mishra.
Dr. Kundu’s lecture examined global patterns of material consumption and their implications for sustainable development, focusing particularly on the disparities between developed and developing countries. Key themes included major polluters and material footprints, trends in material consumption, human development and resource efficiency, and the ecological impacts of sustainable development. Beginning with the concept of material footprints, Dr. Kundu pointed out how developed nations often place blame on developing regions, particularly Asia, for their substantial share of global material consumption. He noted that while the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 55% of material consumption in developing countries, the narrative from developed nations tends to oversimplify the complexities of the issue, leading to an unfair attribution of responsibility.
Dr. Kundu highlighted the steady rise in global material consumption since the 1980s and the stark divide in per capita consumption between developed and developing nations. He introduced important concepts such as Domestic Material Consumption (DMC) and Material Footprints (MF), explaining how the International Resource Panel (IRP) employs an input-output framework for calculation. The widening gap between material footprints and DMC was discussed as indicative of deprivation in third-world countries, with a particular focus on China’s increasing DMC. While material footprints per capita in Europe and North America have not declined since 2010, they have plateaued in developing countries. Furthermore, Dr. Kundu addressed the relationship between resource use and human development, asserting that increased material consumption does not inherently lead to higher human development levels. His analysis, based on data from 193 countries, showed that while resource use may boost income (in PPP terms), it does not always correlate with improved human development metrics.
The lecture concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which faculty members, scholars, and students posed insightful questions. Dr. Prajna Paramita Mishra, Associate Professor, offered a vote of thanks.