An Introduction to Ecological Economics [Hardcover]

Robert Costanza (Author), John H Cumberland (Author), Herman Daly (Author), Robert Goodland (Author), Richard B Norgaard (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1884015727 | ISBN-13: 978-1884015724 | Publication Date: August 11, 1997 | Edition: 1

Ecological economics is a way of rethinking the relationship between humans and the environment and working out the implications of how we manage our lives and the planet. An Introduction to Ecological Economics offers a starting point for undergraduate and graduate students and environmental professionals interested in this transdisciplinary field. Beginning in Section 1 with a description of some current problems in society and their underlying causes, Section 2 then takes a historical perspective to explain how world views regarding economics and ecology have evolved. Section 3 presents the fundamental principles of ecological economics, and Part 4 outlines and discusses a set of policies for creating a sustainable society as well as instruments that could be used to implement those policies. A conclusions section summarizes the main points of the book and proposes prospects for the future. Let An Introduction to Ecological Economics introduce you to important issues affecting our ecology, our economy, our world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Ecological economics is arguably the single most important academic discipline today. Indeed, one of the most cheering events in the last decade or so has been the increasing cooperation of ecologists and economists, and the gradual reintegration of their disciplines. An Introduction to Ecological Economics provides students with the results of that cooperation, giving an excellent overview of ecological economics today.
-Paul R. Ehrlich, Bing Professor of Population Studies, Stanford University

What a splendid overview of what will likely prove to be one of the most vital of all disciplines in the new millennium. Contrary to much conventional economics, the authors demonstrate-with splendid elan and massive documentation-that the global economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the planetary ecosystem. I have just one basic reaction: right on, write on.
-Norman Myers, Green College, Oxford University and Senior Fellow, World Wildlife Fund-U.S.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (August 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884015727
• ISBN-13: 978-1884015724
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,365,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars too simplistic for the well-informed, August 14, 2001

By 

"bobroberts" - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to Ecological Economics (Hardcover)

This book is quite literally an "introduction," in the sense of discussing the environment and the deficiencies of neoclassical economics as if the reader had not a clue that multinational corporations (and the powerful governments that aid them) are destroying the capacity of the biosphere to support life, including human life. The text is simple and easy to understand since the writing is at the level of that of the World Book Encyclopedia, with some of the same excessive optimism and a general failure to examine the effects of the law of compound interest and other increasing exponential functions in any mathematically useful way. The bibliography at the back of the book goes on for several pages, but cites dozens and dozens of titles by the same five people who group-authored this book. The citations in the text are usually to entire books, and not to specific passages (except in the case of periodical ariticles), making specific assertions difficult to verify. Obviously intended as a freshman or sophomore college text, it is overpriced and underuseful.

Far more helpful than this vacuous tome is the Worldwatch Institute series "State of the World," issued every year on selected topics edited by Lester R. Brown, with a variety of individually written well-footnoted articles, each on a specific aspect of development and its effects on the environment and people all over the earth. These volumes will remain useful for years to come, and you can get three of the latest books in the series for less than the cost of "An Introduction to Ecological Economics," which you won't want to keep after reading anyway.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An anticipated merge of economics with the environment, June 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: An Introduction to Ecological Economics (Hardcover)

Ecological economics is concerned with extending and integrating the study and management of "nature's household" (ecology) and "humankind's household" (economics). Resistance to this new perspective may come from academia as well as industry and governments. On page 10: "Today's market price to polluters for using atmospheric sink capacity for carbon dioxide disposal is zero, although the real opportunity cost may turn out to be astronomical. Economists are almost unanimous in persisting in externalizing the costs of CO2 emissions, even though by 1993 more than 180 nations had signed a treaty to internalize such costs." It would be difficult to praise this book too highly.

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding foundation for the field of ecological economics, November 25, 2010

By 

David C. Garen (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Ecological Economics (Hardcover)

I found this book to be a very thorough, well-thought out, and readable introductory treatise on the foundational ideas behind the emerging field of ecological economics. Actually, it struck me as quite profound. The analysis and commentary on the environmental situation facing humanity was insightful, and the interdisciplinary approach to the connections between economics and the environment is very timely.

In the final chapter, the authors make several suggestions of policy instruments that could be used to put these ideas into effect in the economic system. I thought these were well-conceived, and they addressed many of the issues and potential objections traditional economists might raise.

I think that even neoclassical economists ought to be able to read this book without being put off, if they approach it with an open mind and are willing to broaden the perspective of their field. It seems abundantly clear that such a broadening is needed to address environmental and social aspects of economic activity that have emerged during the last half century or so.

I feel that the previous Amazon review that gave the book only two stars is unfair in its assessment and misses the point of the book. This book, by establishing and justifying the underlying principles and philosophy of ecological economics, lays the foundation for proceeding with assessments and actions that other books might describe.

Also to note is that this book is available as an e-book on the Encyclopedia of Earth web site:
[...](e-book)

As an earth scientist and one concerned with the environment, social justice, and the sustainability of humanity and the earth, I have discovered that ecological economics is perhaps the most important cognitive framework for actualizing these concerns. For any progress to be made on these fronts, the economic system must be capable of reflecting these values inherently. This is what ecological economics does. Anyone concerned about these issues should embrace ecological economics as the necessary new paradigm to address 21st century challenges.