Edward Elgar Publishing Economy and ecosystems in change: Analytical and Historical Approaches (Advances in Ecological Economics series)

Economy and Ecosystems in Change addresses ecological problems from an economic perspective, and provides policy suggestions for resource management and environmental sustainability based on integrated, multidisciplinary information, methods and applications. The book begins by introducing the different approaches and applications within ecological economics and clarifying new elements and fundamental principles. This initial discussion includes a comparison between ecological and environmental economics and the evaluation and function of ecosystems. The authors then examine the macroeconomy-ecosystem relationship with reference to national and global processes, focusing specifically on employment versus sustainability, trade, industrial transformation and rural development. In the third part there is an evaluation of whether ecosystems and economics can be treated independently; it is argued that the integration of these fields provides more complete insights and information for addressing the complex relationships between human activities and natural processes. Finally, the authors consider the institutional environment and policies affecting public ecosystems subject to economic uses. Using case study evidence, they conclude that public policy often supports an unsustainable use of resources. To counter this the authors propose policy and management options based on natural resource accounts, practical policy objectives and the precautionary principle. Economy and Ecosystems in Change will be of interest to ecological, environmental and resource economists and policymakers. Review 'This edited volume, which draws on papers presented at the Third Meeting of the International Society for Ecological Economics in 1994, provides an interesting and readable survey of an important area of inquiry and practice. The conference organizers sought to promote "down-to-earth" applications of the conceptual frameworks championed by ISEEs founders, and the book presents case studies from a wide range of geographical and substantive contexts. . . . The result is a book that reflects the methodological richness, conceptual pluralism, and operational implications of ecological economics. . . . the text remains fresh and insightful, contributing significantly to the developing literature in this field.' About the Author Edited by Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh, ICREA Professor, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain and Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Jan van der Straaten, Senior Researcher in Environmental and Ecological Economics, European Centre for Nature Conservation and Retired Senior Lecturer, Department of Leisure Studies, Tilburg University, The Netherlands