Raw Material Equivalents: The Challenges of Accounting for Sustainability in a Globalized World

摘要: The indicator domestic material consumption (domestic extraction + imports – exports) is widely used to track the scale, composition, and dynamics of use. As production increasingly occurs at a spatial distance from demand it ultimately satisfies, new accounting challenges arise that this may not be able meet. In response, indicators in raw equivalents (RME) have been developed account for use, no matter where occurs, associated with final demand. RME are most commonly calculated based on monetary input-output tables extensions. resulting indicators, which rapidly gaining scientific political importance, must interpreted as stemming mixed physical approach. How such an approach differs shown article using model extension. Neither nor found generate results incorrect. Instead, light assumptions entailed they based. making possibilities limits interpretation both cases transparent, can more readily discussed by sustainability scientists practitioners.