Read the following statements. In response, state ‘True’, ‘False’ or ‘Uncertain and explain why:

(a) In the presence of external trade, sustainability indicators at the national level may be flawed.

(b) If the genuine savings rate (GS) of a resource-dependent country (such as Congo, Venezuela, Indonesia)

has been consistently negative over the past 15 years, it is a clear indication that this country is a net exporter of resources. In an era of globalization this should not suggest any impending economic problem.

(c) Many developed nations (such as Japan, Germany and US) are in ecological deficit. That is, for each country the ecological footprint or the amount of biologically productive land needed for consumption and waste generation exceeds the natural regeneration process. This is clearly unsustainable.

(d) Money spent on repairing environmental damages, as such expenditure on devices put on smokestacks to control pollution, normally increases GDP. This is a flawed accounting approach because expenditures of this nature are not economically productive.