The structure of socio-economic metabolism and its drivers on household level in Hungary

Amount of the direct input flows of the economy exceed the direct input flows of households significantly. Household inputs represent 10.3% of the Hungarian direct material consumption (DMC). For better understanding, the material balance of Hungary was compiled and extended using an additional layer of the flows' functions. With regard to input flows, every increment in direct inputs evokes multiple increment on macroeconomic scale. Since several input flows are assumed to be driven by the amount of stocks, an increment in material stocks will add further material consumption surplus to this effect. Improvements in production processes can narrow multiplicative effects especially in food supply chains and construction activity. Similar characteristics in material flow and stock relations of three countries (Japan, Germany and Hungary) highlight that the decoupling is not possible without accumulation of lower amount of material in the societies.