Indeed, some of the questions in the Footprint Calculator are more effective at
deciphering whether a person resides in a developed or developing country. For
example, developing countries tend to be more dependent on what they produce
(agriculture) and, therefore, are more likely to answer to consuming unprocessed,
unpackaged, or locally grown food (Question 2). Similarly, the amount of garbage
produced in a typical American household (in a developed country), for example,
would be substantially greater than what a low- to medium-income/developing
country would generate. As previously mentioned, the final question (Question 15)
does not apply to most people in developing countries.
Although poverty is recognised to some degree in the questionnaire (e.g., housing
materials in Question 4), many of the other questions are problematic for various
reasons:
• Meat and seafood are expensive and may affect Question 1.
• Similarly, for Question 2, processed foods are less affordable.
• For Question 3, there may be running water in a house – in developed countries –
but this does not mean that people can afford to pay for their water bills and,
therefore, actually have running water.
• If they live in informal settlements, their house may be made from cheap/scrap
materials (Question 4).
• Poor people may be unable to afford to buy contraception (unless publicly
funded), so may have larger families (Question 5).
• Impoverished people will likely occupy smaller dwellings due to affordability
(Question 6).
• Question 7 is problematic because although it asks whether there is electricity in
the house (and possibly differentiates between developed or developing countries), it assumes that residents will use the electricity if they have it – which may
not be the case, as for example in areas experiencing ‘energy poverty’.
• Their homes may not be very energy efficient, again due to the affordability of
modern appliances, etc. (Question 8).
• People who cannot afford to buy much food will not generate much trash
(Question 10).
• Poverty may cause people to either carpool – perhaps with friends and family if
there is no official carpool programme in place (Question 13), walk more, or cycle
(if they can access a cycle) or, otherwise, use public transportation (Question 14).
• Very poor people cannot afford to fly (Question 15).
The survey assumes that people understand some concepts that uneducated
people may never have come across before. For example, participants may not
understand what it means to be ‘energy efficient’ in the home or otherwise. Likewise,
they may not know the amount of renewable energy their house or country uses.
Question 10 about garbage is, again, problematic because it compares the amount of
garbage generated per household by comparison to neighbouring houses. But, what
about isolated properties where people cannot see their neighbours, as in rural areas?
For Question 12, participants may not know the fuel efficiency of vehicles – unless
they are car-savvy. The survey can be construed as being more relevant to urbanites
1.4 Quality Analysis
17
deciphering whether a person resides in a developed or developing country. For
example, developing countries tend to be more dependent on what they produce
(agriculture) and, therefore, are more likely to answer to consuming unprocessed,
unpackaged, or locally grown food (Question 2). Similarly, the amount of garbage
produced in a typical American household (in a developed country), for example,
would be substantially greater than what a low- to medium-income/developing
country would generate. As previously mentioned, the final question (Question 15)
does not apply to most people in developing countries.
Although poverty is recognised to some degree in the questionnaire (e.g., housing
materials in Question 4), many of the other questions are problematic for various
reasons:
• Meat and seafood are expensive and may affect Question 1.
• Similarly, for Question 2, processed foods are less affordable.
• For Question 3, there may be running water in a house – in developed countries –
but this does not mean that people can afford to pay for their water bills and,
therefore, actually have running water.
• If they live in informal settlements, their house may be made from cheap/scrap
materials (Question 4).
• Poor people may be unable to afford to buy contraception (unless publicly
funded), so may have larger families (Question 5).
• Impoverished people will likely occupy smaller dwellings due to affordability
(Question 6).
• Question 7 is problematic because although it asks whether there is electricity in
the house (and possibly differentiates between developed or developing countries), it assumes that residents will use the electricity if they have it – which may
not be the case, as for example in areas experiencing ‘energy poverty’.
• Their homes may not be very energy efficient, again due to the affordability of
modern appliances, etc. (Question 8).
• People who cannot afford to buy much food will not generate much trash
(Question 10).
• Poverty may cause people to either carpool – perhaps with friends and family if
there is no official carpool programme in place (Question 13), walk more, or cycle
(if they can access a cycle) or, otherwise, use public transportation (Question 14).
• Very poor people cannot afford to fly (Question 15).
The survey assumes that people understand some concepts that uneducated
people may never have come across before. For example, participants may not
understand what it means to be ‘energy efficient’ in the home or otherwise. Likewise,
they may not know the amount of renewable energy their house or country uses.
Question 10 about garbage is, again, problematic because it compares the amount of
garbage generated per household by comparison to neighbouring houses. But, what
about isolated properties where people cannot see their neighbours, as in rural areas?
For Question 12, participants may not know the fuel efficiency of vehicles – unless
they are car-savvy. The survey can be construed as being more relevant to urbanites
1.4 Quality Analysis
17