This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecin , Debrecin , Hungary
Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecin , Debrecin , Hungary
Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecin , Debrecin , Hungary
Is Global Merchandise Trade Heading Towards Sustainability? In recent decades, there has been an unprecedented increase in global trade volumes, world exports, and GDP ratio, bringing progress that has positively impacted billions of people in numerous countries. However, the sustainability of these developments in terms of the environment, economy, and society presents significant challenges in the 21st century. Our research relies on highly detailed international trade databases to support our findings quantitatively. By examining qualitative impact factors, we highlight that current global events may lead to suboptimal trade scenarios but could enhance environmental sustainability. However, the effects on economic and social sustainability and global welfare are uncertain. Although recent technological innovations such as AI may not provide immediate relief, they hold some faint promise for the future.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
