PRIMARY RESOURCE USE AND VOLUNTARY RECYCLING SCHEMES - DYNAMIC ISSUESIN A GLOBAL CONTEXT

A simple dynamic model is developed to show that recycling schemes dep endent on voluntary action may, in the long run, lead to greater use o f primary materials. The agents are a primary-materials producer and a materials user (interpreted as global South and North). Northern prod ucers of the final good are effectively subsidised by voluntary recycl ing efforts and their accumulation intensity rises to a degree which m ay offset the unit savings on primary materials. The most effective wa y to conserve primary sources in the long run is to reduce the Norther n savings propensity.