This paper analyzes endogenous fiscal policy in an endogenous growth model
where agents care about social status and environmental quality. The quest for
a higher status is assimilated to a preference for capital wealth. The government uses income tax to finance infrastructure and environmental protection. We find that accounting for preferences for social status and environmental quality may lead to an allocation of tax revenue in favor of a cleanup effort to the detriment
of infrastructure. It does not necessary have a negative impact on growth. Status-seeking can however harm economic growth and environmental quality when its
motive is important enough. Finally, we show that economic growth is consistent
with environmental preservation but is not necessarily welfare-improving as in the
case of absence of status-seeking behavior.