Always aspiring for more is a side of human nature that does not accord well with sustainable resource use. However, recent results show that this facet of human nature may not be as typical as previously assumed, potentially opening up a more sustainable and just future for humanity.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Steffen, W. et al. Science 347, 1259855 (2015).
Steffen, W. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 115, 8252–8259 (2018).
Bain, P. G. & Bongiorno, R. Nat. Sustain. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-00902-y (2022).
Kramm, M. & Robeyns, I. Eur. J. Phil. 28, 954–969 (2020).
Smith, A. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Vol. I and II. The Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith (eds Todd, W. B. et al.) (Oxford Univ. Press, 1975).
Kahneman, D. & Deaton, A. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 107, 16489–16493 (2010).
Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J. & Minkov, M. Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind: Intercultural Cooperation and Its Importance for Survival 3rd edn (Mcgraw-Hill, 2010).
Shrider, E. A., Kollar, M., Chen, F. & Semega, J. Income and Poverty in the United States: 2020 (United States Census Bureau, 2021); https://go.nature.com/3Gh3d82
Mean and median income by household type — EU-SILC and ECHP surveys. Eurostat https://go.nature.com/3NDRFOz (2020).
WVS Database (World Values Survey, 2022); https://go.nature.com/3MPfFyi
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The author declares no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lindahl, T. Limited and unlimited wants examined. Nat Sustain 5, 641–642 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-00917-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-00917-5