A Critique of Environmental Economics: A Heterodox Approach
About this book
A Critique of Environmental Economics draws on insights in radical political economy, institutionalist economics, ecological economics, feminist economics, and other heterodox traditions to fill-in the gaps in our understanding of the relationship between economy and ecology left by mainstream environmental economics. The book is divided into four parts, each part in turn bringing the discussion forward. The first part explores the important components of a new environmental/economic paradigm as it moves to develop a much broader intellectual framework than previously available. The second part moves current discussion beyond platitudes about population growth and industrialization and focuses attention instead on perverse incentives intrinsic in our economic institutions which put the natural environment at much greater risk than people once realized. The third part concentrates on equipping environmentalists with the information they need to contend with professional economists who often do not share their values or priorities in debates over environmental policy. The fourth part applies this new inter-disciplinary understanding of climate change to reviewing the history of climate negotiations, identifying important lessons to be learned, and applying these lessons to designing an effective, efficient, and fair post-Kyoto treaty. Professor Hahnel’s book provides an analysis of environmental problems and their potential solutions that environmentalists, as well as economists, can trust. Its pluralistic, non-dogmatic and committed investigation into the values of ecological sustainability, economic justice, and human dignity should be a welcome offering to those who are frustrated with mainstream treatments of environmental issues. A Critique of Environmental Economics should be of interest to Environmental Economists as well as Environmental Scientists, Climate Scientists and Political Scientists.