Relación entre el crecimiento económico y su impacto en el medio ambiente en Ecuador: comparación entre las provincias de Pichincha y Sucumbíos, Guayas y El Oro (2010-2022)

Abstract

One of the most pressing problems of the contemporary world has been environmental damage, which not only affects the population but also all forms of life. Over time, the growth and industrialization of societies have caused the environmental impact to intensify, which has endangered numerous lives, biodiversity, ecosystems and has contributed significantly to climate change. As a megadiverse country, Ecuador faces an immense challenge to discover the way that will lead it to the exact point where there is a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the correlation between economic growth and its impact on the environment in the provinces of Pichincha, Sucumbíos, Guayas and El Oro in the period from 2010 to 2022. The research uses a quantitative approach that combines economic and environmental indicators. To analyse the degree of socioeconomic progress, key variables such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Economically Active Population (EAP), per capita income, population and the degree of illiteracy will be considered. These variables allow economic growth to be assessed from different perspectives: GDP reflects the total production of goods and services, being a central indicator of economic performance; EAP measures the available labour force and its participation in the economy; per capita income provides an approximation of the level of well-being and distribution of wealth; the total population influences aggregate demand and pressure on resources; and the degree of illiteracy is a determinant of human capital, the development of which is essential for sustainable growth. From an environmental point of view, indicators such as deforestation and CO₂ emissions are included, given that economic growth can generate negative impacts on the environment. Deforestation is a key indicator of unsustainable use of natural resources and its relationship to agricultural and industrial expansion, while CO₂ emissions reflect the level of pollution resulting from economic activity, in line with the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis (Grossman & Krueger, 1991), which suggests that in the early stages of development, economic growth tends to increase environmental damage before societies adopt more sustainable policies.