Economics and Ecology

New frontiers and sustainable development
Softcover Nachdruck of the original 1. Auflage 1993
ISBN: 978-94-010-4663-3
Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buch, Englisch, 205 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 347 g

In the Summer of 1991, Bob Carling, who was then Life Sciences Editor of Chapman & Hall, approached me over the possibility of producing an edited volume of works on economics and ecology. As we discussed the matter further, what became clear is that there is a growing literature on the' frontiers' of both disciplines that has involved economists 'borrowing' from ecology and ecologists 'borrowing' from economics. We decided that this volume should try to provide a small cross-section of that literature. I was very much interested in editing this volume for several reasons. First, one of my principal interests in economics has been how the economic analysis of natural resource and environmental problems can benefit from the concepts and lessons learned from other disciplines, in particular ecology. I was grateful at having the opportunity to pull together a selection of readings that illustrate how the integration of the two disciplines can lead to fruitful analysis. Second, I was also aware that, as Director of the London Environmental Economics Centre and as a Senior Researcher at the International Institute of Environment and Development, I was fortunate to have worked with or to have known a number of economists and ecologists whose work would be ideal for this volume. I was delighted that so many of my friends and colleagues were as enthusiastic about this project as I, and agreed to participate.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Barbier, Edward B.

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Bauingenieurwesen Bauingenieurwesen
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Volkswirtschaftslehre Allgemein
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umweltschutz, Umwelterhaltung
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Ökologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1 Introduction: economics and ecology – the next frontier.- 1.1 A short parable.- 1.2 Natural capital, economics and ecology in development.- 1.3 Outline of the book.- References.- 2 Environmentally sustainable development: Optimal economic conditions.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 A model of environmentally sustainable economic activity.- 2.3 Optimal sustainable economic growth.- 2.4 Conclusions.- References.- 3 Ecological economic systems analysis: Order and chaos.- 3.1 What is systems analysis?.- 3.2 Scientific uncertainty: beyond risk, into the abyss.- 3.3 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 4 Sustainable agriculture: The trade-offs with productivity, stability and equitability.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Agroecosystems.- 4.3 The measurement of agroecosystem properties.- 4.4 Trade-offs.- 4.5 Conclusions.- References.- 5 Stress, shock and the sustainability of optimal resource utilization in a stochastic environment.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 An ecological model.- 5.3 The management problem.- 5.4 A simulation.- 5.5 The economic environment and ecological stress.- 5.6 Stress, shock and the discount rate.- 5.7 Conclusions.- References.- 6 Economic and ecological carrying capacity: Applications to pastoral systems in Zimbabwe.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 The productivity of CA cattle: What is the economic CC?.- 6.3 Ecological sustainability: Limits to livestock numbers in CAs.- 6.4 Investigating land degradation.- 6.5 The determinants of ecological CC: How do cattle survive in CAs?.- 6.6 Livestock management in variable environments: Some policy implications.- 6.7 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- Archival sources.- References.- 7 Tropical forests and biodiversity conservation: A new ecological imperative.- 7.1 What is biodiversity?.- 7.2 What do we know aboutbiodiversity?.- 7.3 The role of tropical forests as ‘sources’ of global biodiversity.- 7.4 Interpretations of biodiversity for planning.- 7.5 Issues concerning biodiversity and tropical forests.- 7.6 Empirical efforts to research and resolve these issues.- 7.7 Conclusion.- References.- 8 Optimal economic growth and the conservation of biological diversity.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 The species-area relation.- 8.3 The model.- 8.4 Solution to the autonomous control problem.- 8.5 Solution to the nonautonomous control problem.- 8.6 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 9 The viewing value of elephants.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 The viewing value of elephants.- 9.3 Contingent valuation method.- 9.4 Safari expenditures in Kenya.- References.- 10 Ecology and economics in small islands: Constructing a framework for sustainable development.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 The vulnerabilities of island economies and island ecologies.- 10.3 Islands as opportunities for sustainable development.- 10.4 Frameworks for sustainable development.- References.- 11 Sustainable economic development: Economic and ethical principles.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Weak and strong sustainability paradigms.- 11.3 The valuation of environmental resources.- 11.4 Sustainability and ethics.- 11.5 Conclusions.- References.- 12 Postscript.- References.