In its first edition, this book helped to define the emerging field of ecological economics. This new edition surveys the field today. It incorporates all of the latest research findings and grounds economic inquiry in a more robust understanding of human needs and behavior. Humans and ecological systems, it argues, are inextricably bound together in complex and long-misunderstood ways.
According to ecological economists, conventional economics does not reflect adequately the value of essential factors like clean air and water, species diversity, and social and generational equity. By excluding biophysical and social systems from their analyses, many conventional economists have overlooked problems of the increasing scale of human impacts and the inequitable distribution of resources.
This introductory-level textbook is designed specifically to address this significant flaw in economic thought. The book describes a relatively new “transdisciplinea that incorporates insights from the biological, physical, and social sciences. It provides students with a foundation in traditional neoclassical economic thought, but places that foundation within an interdisciplinary framework that embraces the linkages among economic growth, environmental degradation, and social inequity. In doing so, it presents a revolutionary way of viewing the world.
The second edition of Ecological Economics provides a clear, readable, and easy-to-understand overview of a field of study that continues to grow in importance. It remains the only stand-alone textbook that offers a complete explanation of theory and practice in the discipline.
Acknowledgments A Note to Instructors Introduction
PART I. An Introduction to Ecological Economics Chapter 1. Why Study Economics? Chapter 2. The Fundamental Vision Chapter 3. Ends, Means,and Policy
PART II. The Containing and Sustaining Ecosystem: The Whole Chapter 4. The Nature of Resources and the Resources of Nature Chapter 5. Abiotic Resources Chapter 6. Biotic Resources Chapter 7. From Empty World to Full World
PART III. Microeconomics Chapter 8. The Basic Market Equation Chapter 9. Supply and Demand Chapter 10. Market Failures Chapter 11. Market Failures and Abiotic Resources Chapter 12. Market Failures and Biotic Resources Chapter 13. Microeconomic Concepts: GNP and Welfare
PART IV. Macroeconomics Chapter 14. Macroeconomic Concepts:GNP and Welfare Chapter 15. Money Chapter 16. Distribution Chapter 17. The IS-LM Model
PART V. Internatinal Trade Chapter 18. International Trade Chapter 19. Globalization Chapter 20. Financial Globalization PART VI. Policy Chapter 21. General Policy Design Principles Chapter 22. Sustainable Scale Chapter 23. Just Distribution Chapter 24. Efficient Allocation -Looking Ahead
Glossary Suggested Readings About the Authors Index
"As ecological economics builds upon neoclassical economics, however, this single volume treatment of the relatively new field by Daley (emeritus, U. of Maryland) and Farley (U. of Vermont) goes beyond merely critiquing neoclassical models and instead incorporates them into the main body of the text, thus providing an introduction to many of the main concepts and issues found in standard texts on macroeconomics and microeconomics while also addressing the disciplinary and policy implications of the natural limits to growth."
