Brazil and India case studies
Between 1990 and 2008, the wealth of Brazil and India (in terms of GDP per capita) rose 34% and 120% respectively. But when measures of natural, human and manufactured capital are considered together to obtain a more comprehensive value, Brazil’s “Inclusive Wealth” rose just 3% and India’s rose 9%.
Natural capital, the sum of a country’s assets, from forests to fossil fuels and minerals, declined 46% in Brazil and 31% in India between 1990 and 2008.