Empirical studies over the past two decades have shown a widening gap between trend lines for the index of GDP per capita and the ISEW for many advanced countries. This seems to validate the claim made by the so-called threshold hypothesis. That is, economic growth as conventionally measured would lead to a decline in quality of life.

(a) Provide a measured comment.

(b) How do you reconcile the threshold hypothesis with the environmental Kuznets curve (ECK) hypothesis ?