Benito Ostolaza, Juan MiguelEzcurra Orayen, RobertoOsés Eraso, Nuria2021-04-072022-08-0120202214-804310.1016/j.socec.2020.101579https://academica-e.unavarra.es/handle/2454/39492This paper experimentally explores the link between poverty and decisions that lead environmental degradation. In the experiment, individuals with different wealth levels play a game that describes environmental degradation as a contribution to an activity that generates a negative externality. The experimental data show that wealth levels not related to the environment (exogenous poverty) play no significant role in environmental decisions. However, the variation in wealth as a consequence of the contribution to environmental degradation (endogenous poverty) affects the behavior of individuals, that enter a spiral of poverty and environmental degradation. These results suggest the existence of a poverty-environment trap.37 p.application/pdfeng© 2020 Elsevier Inc. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0Environmental degradationExogenous povertyEndogenous povertyNegative externalityExperimentinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess