No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
The Early History of Modern Ecological Economics
Abstract
This paper provides a historical perspective for the discussion on ecological economics as a special field of research. By studying the historical background of ecological economics, the present discussions and tensions inside the field might become easier to understand and to relate to. The study is inspired by other studies of the emergence of new research areas done by sociologists and historians of science, and includes both cognitive and social aspects, macro trends and the role of individuals. The basis for the paper is a combination of literature studies and interviews with key researchers from the field. The story opens with the emergence of the new environmental agenda in the 1960s, which was influenced by the scientific development in biology and ecology. Then it is outlined how the environmental challenge was met by economics in the 1960s. Around 1970, the basic ideas of ecological economics were given modern formulations, but it took a long gestation period from the beginning of the 1970s to the end of the 1980s, before ecological economics took shape. During this gestation period, the personal relationships between the actors were formed, and the meetings that were decisive for the formal establishment of ecological economics took place.
... In the 1980s, a resolve emerged among some ecologists, economists and other scholars regarding the need for humanity to better care for ecologies, economies, and societies [29]. Since that time, much has changed in the field. ...
... So far, then, focusing on ecology and society remains the dominant trend in the literature. For instance, as advocated for by Røpke in 2004, "the economy ought to be studied also, but not only, as a natural object, and that economic processes should consequently also be conceptualized in terms usually used to describe processes in nature" [29] (p. 296). ...
... "SEE Beyond Substantive Economics: Avoiding False Dichotomies" [68]. "The Early History of Modern Ecological Economics" [29]. "Michael Polanyi's vision of government and economics: Spanning Hayek and Keynes" [67]. ...
In ecological economics, common themes notwithstanding, there is a lack of consensus in basic views, with no signs of convergence. All the while, ecological, economic, and social crises continue to deepen globally. A question arises: philosophical speculation and mathematical modeling aside, how can we make progress in theory and praxis when there are mutually incompatible views and sources are transdisciplinary? This article describes a transdisciplinary methodology for effective collaboration that is already emergent in ecological economics, but which has not yet been identified. The method employed in the paper allows for but also is an extension of traditional empirical method. One looks not only to output (of, for example, disciplines) but also to operative methods generative of output. And so, for example, in the effort to interpret an author’s writings, one adverts not only to familiar sources of data but also to one’s own experience. Within this broader focus, components of the methodological solution to the problem in ecological economics begin to come into view. More specifically, sample texts from the literature reveal eight distinct but mutually dependent modes of thought and expression (or, in other words, eight distinct tasks). Four are past-oriented, and four are future-oriented. It also becomes evident that, at this time in history, these modes often are inadvertently combined in semi-random, fragmentary, and counter-productive ways. By the same token, however, when looking to future possibilities, emergent in contemporary ecological economics is a potential methodology for effective collaboration that will be explicitly centered on the eight modes identified. Because it will be grounded in operative methods rather than discipline-specific output, the methodology will be transdisciplinary functional collaboration.
... Literature reconnaissance allowed not only for a formalized and objectivized synthesis of the hitherto scientific achievements or the assessment of research conducted so far [6][7][8][9][10][11][12], but above all, it enabled the identification of areas both explored and unexplored [13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. This gave rise to defining the framework for further research [20], the results of which may form the basis of subsequent exploratory work [20]. ...
... The concept of sustainable production may also be supported by concepts aimed at increasing the technological and social potential of the enterprise. Although none 15 of the concepts is more important than others, the essence of the authors' next study will be to articulate the methods and concepts of production management relevant from the perspective of assessing and improving sustainable production. The premise for the choice of the research problem formulated in this way is the fact that among the many requirements for suppliers of parts, subassemblies and ready means of agricultural transport, the repertoire of available methods and concepts is one of the most important requirements for effective management. ...
The main purpose of the work is to indicate the effects of the implementation of the concept of sustainable production from the perspective of the well-being of employees. The diagnosis was made among manufacturers operating in the sector of agricultural technical means of transport (production of parts and subassemblies). Achieving the main goal required the formulation and implementation of partial goals, which the authors included: (C1) analysis of the concept of sustainable production from the perspective of employees' well-being (theoretical plane); (C2) compiling a research model in the form of an evaluation sheet being the result of a literature query and an expert study (theoretical and design layer); attention was paid to the articulation of categories relevant to the content and scope of research; (C3) verification of the research model (indication of the effects of the implementation of the concept of sustainable production (the perspective of employee well-being) by the surveyed enterprises).
... El impacto ambiental de esta tendencia al crecimiento ilimitado es un lugar común de la economía ecológica (Georgescu-Roegen, 1971;Røpke, 2004) y de los estudios eco-marxistas contemporáneos, (Foster, 2000;Saito, 2017) que han recuperado la importancia del concepto de metabolismo (Stoffwechsel) en el pensamiento maduro de Marx, y que han enfatizado la dimensión ecológica del capital como proceso en contradicción con las dinámicas autorreguladoras del planeta Tierra. 5 De hecho, mucho antes de que Jason W. 2016), el historiador y geógrafo estadounidense Jason W. Moore cita a Donna Haraway para defender esta misma definición: "El capitalismo no es un sistema puramente económico ni social, sino un «conjunto históricamente situado de metabolismos y ensamblajes»" (Moore, 2016, p. 81;Haraway, 2015, p. 21). ...
Este texto ofrece una lectura eco-fisiológica de la relación entre la inmunidad y el metabolismo capitalista, ofreciendo a los debates de la inmunología política contemporánea un lecho biofísico en el que aterrizar. El argumento central del texto es que ambos procesos, metabólico e inmunológico, son esenciales para la conservación de la homeodinámica del capital: su tendencia adaptativa al crecimiento permanente. Desde este enfoque, el texto analiza las dependencias anatómicas y circulatorias del metabolismo capitalista tras la Gran Aceleración, y dialoga con Byung-Chul Han, Inge Mutsaers y Laura Quintana para esclarecer la naturaleza de los procesos que sirven a la inmunización del crecimiento ilimitado.
... The linear economy has often been characterized by short-term thinking, with businesses and consumers focusing on immediate gain and convenience without considering the long-term environmental impacts (Ellen-MacArthur-Foundation, 2014, Røpke, 2005). -For a long time, there has been a lack of awareness of the actual consequences of resource scarcity, which has only started to become more visible in recent years (Ghisellini et al., 2016, Røpke, 2004). -A lack of strict regulatory frameworks and incentives to promote a CE has contributed to maintenance of the linear model (Ellen-MacArthur-Foundation, 2015, Raworth, 2017, McDonough andBraungart, 2002). ...
This research project charts a course for the transition based on a comprehensive examination of the contextual conditions for the necessary systemic change from a linear economy to a CE for building and refurbishment in Denmark’s affordable housing sector.
The project includes four scientific articles assessing contemporary tools and methods to facilitate the transition that reveal fundamental insights into the challenges and driving forces of the transition.
... Le débat sur l'identité de l'Économie écologique et sur l'ouverture à une variété d'approches, parfois concurrentes, voire contradictoires, ne s'est jamais vraiment clos depuis l'institutionnalisation du champ (Røpke, 2004). Il prend parfois la forme d'affrontements entre, d'une part, une vision oecuménique, qui ferait de l'Économie écologique un champ accueillant tous ceux qui souhaitent exprimer une position sur les rapports entre économie et écologie (voir la position de Richard Howarth [2008], rédacteur en chef de la revue Ecological Economics de 2008 à 2022, qui revendique l'idée d'une Économie écologique à l'image d'une « Big Tent » sous laquelle tous ceux qui contribuent à l'analyse des relations entre économie et écologie pourraient se retrouver) et, d'autre part, une vision beaucoup plus critique, voire dissidente, qui conduit à partitionner le champ entre trois « camps » : la nouvelle économie des ressources, les nouveaux pragmatistes de l'environnement et les socioéconomistes écologiques (une vision défendue par Clive Spash, que l'on retrouve notamment dans la manière dont est organisé son Handbook, qui fait des derniers les seuls « vrais » économistes écologiques). ...
À partir des années 1970, plusieurs groupes de chercheurs, dont ceux qui fondèrent la revue Natures Sciences Sociétés , ont eu l’idée qu’il était nécessaire, pour répondre à la question environnementale, de dépasser les frontières disciplinaires. Nous proposons de comparer ici trois de ces communautés interdisciplinaires que nous qualifions de communautés épistémiques – l’Économie écologique, la Résilience des systèmes sociaux et écologiques, et la Political Ecology –, en présentant leurs trajectoires, les dispositifs qui les structurent et l’appréhension de leur diversité interne. Nous montrons que, si toutes les trois suivent plus ou moins la même temporalité, elles partagent le même diagnostic sur la nature de la crise environnementale mais appréhendent différemment les débats internes quant aux moyens de résoudre cette crise. Nos analyses montrent différentes manières de faire de l’interdisciplinarité : la Résilience des systèmes sociaux et écologiques constitue une forme de communauté épistémique à la fois souple et structurée, quand la Political Ecology est traversée de questions sur l’utilité même de la science et son rapport au politique et à la critique. L’Économie écologique paraît pour sa part tiraillée entre plusieurs courants, qui se distinguent selon leur rapport à l’orthodoxie économique.
... The 1960s saw a rise in environmental awareness (Røpke, 2004). Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' highlighted the tension between economic progress and ecological health, setting the stage for the development of environmental economics (Carson, 1962). ...
This article traces the development of environmental economic history focusing on the Nordic countries over the past decades. In doing so, a definition of environmental economic history is presented to distinguish the field of research from traditional economic history as well as environmental history. As shown, the field developed both in relation to environmental economics and by providing historical perspectives to the current environmental debate. The article concludes that it is important for students in the field to integrate theoretically rooted environmental perspectives into the traditional economic historical research. ARTICLE HISTORY
... Thus, unlimited economic and population growth will lead to the simultaneous collapse of society and degradation of the environment, i.e., the socio-ecological system will seize to exist. The steady-state economy proposed by Herman Daly in 1970 contributed the most to the establishment of Ecological Economics (Røpke, 2004). Elaborating on the ideas of John Stuart Mill (1861) in the aspect that the development of society continues in a steady-state economy, Boulding's spaceship economy (1966) in terms of circular economy and resource efficiency, and low entropy energy exchange in the economy (Georgescu-Roegen, 1971). ...
The thesis discusses the importance of sustainable urban management, considering the expected increase in urban populations to 70% by 2050. This growth will lead to greater land use and emissions, adversely affecting ecosystems and human health. Sustainable urban management should adopt a systemic perspective, viewing cities as socio-ecological systems with complex interactions between humans and nature. This involves shifting from traditional urban metabolism models to network models that reveal internal city processes. The theoretical framework combines Ecological Economics and Industrial Ecology through network science. A bibliometric analysis of global literature on urban metabolism identified new research areas. The empirical part integrates environmental accounting and network science to assess environmental costs, efficiency, self-sufficiency, and sectoral impacts in urban systems, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 12. A case study in Vienna revealed that mining and agriculture receive little investment, with weaknesses in the urban metabolic system's hierarchy, particularly in wholesale, retail, and energy sectors. An emergy-based evaluation highlighted the larger environmental footprint of agricultural products. A multicriteria approach combining input-output and emergy accounting methods is suggested for a comprehensive understanding of socio-ecological interactions, addressing the limitations of single criteria approaches to urban metabolism.
... Achieving sustainable development has become a major global issue for all countries because of ecological impact management (Markanday and Galarraga, 2022;Singh & Kumar, 2023;Sulehri and Ali, 2024). The term "ecological impact" refers to the influence of human actions on the natural environment, which includes changes in biodiversity, ecosystems, and global health (Røpke, 2004;Audi et al., 2020;Hickel, 2020;Fu et al., 2023;Limjaroenrat & Ramanust, 2023;Treweek, 1995). As public awareness of environmental sustainability grows, assessing ecological impact becomes critical for implementing effective environmental policies and practices. ...
Controlling ecological deterioration is critical for the well-being of current and future generations, as it ensures a sustainable environment that promotes health, productivity, and the general quality of life. This study investigates the interplay between innovation, economic growth, and ecological impact across 18 countries, which collectively account for approximately 64% of global greenhouse gas emissions, using data from 2000 to 2022. Using the structural equation modeling approach, we investigate how the regulatory framework moderates and economic growth mediates these complex relationships. The empirical results reveal that innovation positively impacts economic growth, but this effect is statistically insignificant. Similarly, economic growth contributes significantly to environmental degradation. Moreover, the interaction between innovation and the regulatory framework leads to a decline in economic growth. Furthermore, innovation alone in a direct relationship, reduces ecological impact significantly but innovation and regulatory framework jointly increase ecological impact. Economic growth plays a significant role in mediating the relationship between the interaction term and ecological impact, but it does not significantly influence the relationship between innovation and ecological impact, according to empirical evidence. These insights are vital for policymakers to develop strategies that encourage sustainable growth and innovation.
... La Economía Ecológica es un área del conocimiento relativamente nueva, estructurada formalmente en 1989 con la fundación de la Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) y la creación de la revista Ecological Economics (Ropke, 2004). Esta corriente teórica propone comprender el sistema económico como un subsistema de un sistema mayor, donde ocurren intercambios de materia y energía para la producción de bienes y servicios, incluyendo en su análisis las leyes de la termodinámica, la preocupación por la escala del sistema económico, así como la distribución justa y la asignación eficiente (Oliveira, 2016). ...
Ante el contexto actual de degradación ambiental resultante de la sustracción de bienes ambientales para el desarrollo de las actividades humanas, surge la necesidad de abordar las posiciones de corrientes teóricas de la ciencia económica encaminadas a comprender la relación que se establece entre la economía y los recursos naturales. Por lo tanto, este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar los aspectos teóricos generales de la Economía Ambiental Neoclásica y la Economía Ecológica, con miras a comparar las posiciones de estas dos corrientes sobre la cuestión ambiental. La metodología consiste básicamente en una revisión bibliográfica de las dos teorías. Los resultados indican que la Economía Ambiental Neoclásica ve la economía como un todo, mientras que la Economía Ecológica destaca su interconexión con el ecosistema global. Mientras el primero trata la economía como un sistema aislado, el segundo reconoce la relación entre la economía y el medio ambiente. Además, la Economía Ambiental se basa en principios mecánicos, ignorando la temporalidad de las transformaciones, mientras que la Economía Ecológica reconoce su irreversibilidad. Finalmente, la Economía Neoclásica no considera la unicidad de los recursos naturales, a diferencia de la Economía Ecológica, que valora sus características únicas.
... This interplay between different system levels demonstrates how single units/actions of one system interact or influence other systems, e. g., how economic activities influence society and the biosphere. In the past, nature was mainly seen as a resource supplier (Reichel, 2017;Røpke, 2004). From a sustainability perspective, these resources must be recognized as limited, and the biosphere or nature must be preserved, in the sense that substituting 'natural capital' with 'human capital' (strong sustainability perspective) is inconceivable (Roman et al., 2023). ...
... As mudanças no sistema econômico global estabelecidas pelas restrições ambientais lançaram novos desafios às Ciências Econômicas. Segundo Ropke (2004), no início da década de 1970 a literatura sobre economia do meio ambiente era escassa 3 . Contudo, o autor afirma que, a partir disso, ela cresceu rapidamente devido à implementação de uma série de atividades institucionais e de um aumento das regulamentações públicas ao uso dos recursos naturais implementadas por diversos países do mundo. ...
O objetivo do artigo é resgatar os elementos essenciais da teoria das externalidades elaboradas por Arthur C. Pigou e Ronald H. Coase. Além disso, o estudo se propõe a investigar como a agenda de pesquisa da Economia Ambiental se apropriou da abordagem sobre externalidades elaboradas por estes autores e, a partir daí, expor as principais políticas públicas utilizadas para atenuar os problemas ambientais causados pelas externalidades negativas. Para tanto, é realizada uma revisão teórica da abordagem do bem-estar e das externalidades de Pigou e, em seguida, a abordagem Coase em relação às externalidades e a sua crítica à teoria pigouviana é examinada. Por último, analisa-se as políticas ambientais inspiradas na teoria das externalidades. Conclui-se que as propostas de natureza teórica aos problemas ambientais apresentadas por esta Escola concentra-se somente em estabelecer restrições legais ao mercado. Isto mostra que é necessário que a Ciência Econômica continue a se aprofundar neste campo de estudo a fim de oferecer soluções mais amplas e sistêmicas para os complexos problemas ambientais da sociedade contemporânea.
... 47 The creation of mercury-based arcade mirrors was attempted for a long time, for example. 48 mercury-based arcade rectifiers [6][7][8]. 49 The process of achieving this involves first obtaining a basic understanding of the 50 situation, then attempting to solve the problem, and finally reaching a conclusion. " The 51 third step is to spend money on different companies and create a portfolio of investments 52 that maximizes efficiency while minimizing risk [9]. ...
This article discusses the current state of DC HVDC technology. The article describes the history of DC HVDC technology, starting with its early development as a voltage source, and then discusses the introduction of line-cutting into current designs. The article discusses control and co-ordination of transformers, as well as the need for a DC breaker to facilitate control of multiple plants. Recent developments in the design of DC circuit breakers are discussed. The importance of reliability is recognized, especially in relation to cables, and the issues surrounding cable design are explained. Ongoing and planned installations of VHF-VHF DC installations are described.
... Recognition of biophysical limits and the social and ecological downsides of endless growth led to the establishment of the field of ecological economics within heterodox economics. Pioneered by thinkers such as Georgescu-Roegen (1971), Herman Daly (1991) and Inge Røpke (2004), the field views economy and society as subsystems of nature. In the words of Clive Spash (2020: 2), reality is 'a hierarchical structure with the economy emergent from and embedded in social relations, while social and economic systems are also subject to biophysical structures and their law like conditions'. ...
As a research field, social movement and political project, degrowth is a multifaceted phenomenon. It brings together a range of practices including alternative forms of living and transformative initiatives in civil society, business and the state. Yet no comprehensive theory of degrowth transformations has so far been developed. Deep Transformations fills this gap. It develops a theory of degrowth transformations drawing on insights from multiple fields of knowledge, such as political economy, sociology and philosophy. The book offers a holistic perspective that brings into focus transformation processes on various scales and points to various mechanisms that can facilitate degrowth. These include, for instance, eco-social policies, transformative initiatives in business and civil society and alternative modes of being in and relating with the world.
... Rather, such a spaceship requires a spaceman economy where "we are primarily concerned with (…) stock maintenance, and any technological change which results in the maintenance of a given total stock with a lessened throughput (that is, less production and consumption) is clearly a gain." (id., p. 8) In outlining a circular economy for Spaceship Earth, "where sources and sinks are two sides of the same coin, endless growth is not feasible and materials need to circulate as long as possible within the socioeconomic system" (Haas et al., 2020, p. 1), and which he considered a necessary "condition for safeguarding and sustaining life on earth" (Chauhan et al., 2022, p. 2), Kenneth Boulding (1996) not just contributed to the foundations of ecological economics (Victor, 2015), but must be considered one of its "immediate roots" (Constanza, 2020; see also Røpke, 2004). Spaceship Earth was further propelled by a growing perception of "emerging issues of resource overconsumption and pollution" (D'Amato & Korhonen, 2021, p. 4) to the point where it entered the mainstream environmental and resource economics (Meran, 2023) Qeios, CC-BY 4.0 · Article, May 6, 2024 ...
The concept of Earth as a planetary spaceship serves as a root metaphor of ecological economics, sustainability science, and the broader environmental movement. This article first explores the origins of this metaphor and elucidates the core components and functions of a hypothetical Spaceship Earth. It then draws on Erving Goffman's characteristics of total institutions to show that such a spaceship would epitomise the most total institution ever known in human history. Acknowledging the continued influence of spaceship thinking, the article concludes by offering first hints to emergency exits from a planetary total institution with no mission other than orbiting another celestial body.
... Ecological economics emerged in the late 1980s as the science of sustainability [1][2][3][4][5]. Universal definitions of ecological economics have been recognized, but challenges remain in advancing a consistent, integrated conceptualization of the field. ...
Ecological economics, developed in the late 1980s, came to be known as the multi- and transdisciplinary science of sustainability. Since that time, it has blended basic and applied research with the intention of both informing and bringing change to environmental policy, governance, and society. However, many conventional economists have questioned its originality and contributions. This paper begins by clarifying the foundational perspectives of ecological economics that it engages an economy embedded in both real and limited ecosystems as well as socially constructed power relations. Herman Daly, a founder of the field, expanded on Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen’s entropy economics by focusing on a quantifiable sustainable scale of the economy and achieving justice in the control and distribution of economic benefits. He called for both quantitative analyses of economic scale and discursive approaches to a just distribution. The paper then discusses how the terms entropy, scale, and justice are used and interact in the literature, illustrated by some of the key debates in the field involving the Ecological Footprint, substitutability of natural and manufactured capital, and the growth—“agrowth”—degrowth debate. The debates also illustrate the potential for the field to influence policy. Ecological economics as the science of both sustainability and transformation can deploy numerous concepts and tools to provide insights on how to illuminate and solve some of the most pressing problems of the Anthropocene.
... In-depth analysis of the literature allowed not only a formalised and objective synthesis of scientific achievements achieved so far or the evaluation of research conducted so far and presented, among others, in [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], but above all, it enabled the identification of areas both explored and unexplored and discussed by [14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. This led to the definition of the framework for the research [21], the results of which formed the basis for exploratory work [22]. ...
The main purpose of this work is to indicate the effects of the implementation of the concept of sustainable production from the perspective of the employee’s well-being. The subject of the research was manufacturers operating in the agricultural technical means of transport sector (production of parts and subassemblies). The research leads to the identification of benefits from the well-being of employees resulting from the implementation of the concept of sustainable production, described in the literature, that should be included in the evaluation model in the analysed sector (research question 1). Moreover, it enables the recognition of benefits resulting from the well-being of employees in the surveyed enterprises (level of fulfilment) and shortcomings highlighted by the companies surveyed in the category of benefits resulting from the well-being of employees (low level of fulfilment). The results of this work are the list of benefits structured into categories and assessed by the representatives of agricultural means of transport manufacturers. The list is useful from both academic and utilitarian perspectives.
... Concern for the natural environment is not only a fad these days, but, judging by the degradation of natural resources, it is a necessity. Despite the fact that the initial results of the research mentioned the ecological threat already in the 1960s [47,48], it is only nowadays that efforts to fight for survival have intensified, making the concept of sustainability in managing an upward trend [49,50]. Specifically, based on institutional theory [51], we developed a corporate green entrepreneurship framework with three dimensions: "green initiatives (i.e., a company's active adoption of green practices), received governmental green support (benefits that a company gains from the state budget by adapting to governmental incentives, programs, and policies related to green practices), and green political influence (a company's attempts to influence legislation that enacts laws, rules, and regulations related to green practices). ...
The purpose of this paper is to review the understanding of the term “green entrepreneurship” in contemporary management sciences and its interpretation by people who are or soon will be professionally active. Investigating the phenomenon from a historical perspective will allow an evolutionary approach to the category to indicate contemporary challenges. Apart from a review of the literature on the subject, the interpretations of the term by the target group are recognized in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) context. The research methods used in the article include a critical analysis of the literature on the subject and field research presented in the empirical part. Primary research was carried out in two countries: Poland and Slovakia, among students and professionals working, as well as those professionally active in the private and public sectors. The study aimed to generally identify the knowledge of the concept of “green entrepreneurship”. Based on the results, the responses were delimited and those indicated by less than 5% of the respondents were considered irrelevant. Based on the remaining answers, a new survey questionnaire was created, which was used to conduct the second stage of the research. To simplify the research tool, it was assumed that the questions would be binary (“yes” or “no” answers), and the resulting survey would consist of 22 phrases (marked with alphanumeric symbols) and a form. The respondents’ answers from the second stage of the study allowed us to identify characteristic groups of variables with which the respondents associated the term “green entrepreneurship” and the groups of respondents who indicated an understanding of green entrepreneurship in a specific aspect. It also allowed for the identification the determinants of these indications, as well as similarities and differences between Poles and Slovaks in this respect. For this purpose, the classification and regression tree method (C&RT) was used. For the purposes of this study, JASP 0.18.1 software was used to create the tree. The results show that perceptions and knowledge of green entrepreneurship differ in both surveyed countries.
... The second school of thought refers to H.T. Odum and it's called EROI community (e.g. Energy Return On Investment) because it considers the energy available after deducting the energy required for the extraction and the production of itself (Røpke, 2004). It's noteworthy to mention how this separation recalls differences within the school of classical economists. ...
EN) Questions like "what is the value?" and "how does it form?" have accompanied the debate on political economy since the beginning. Despite the foundational aspect, consulting the more than 5700 articles of the Ecological Economics Journal, only eight refer to "theories of value". The paper aims to reconstruct the debate around the theories of the value with particular focus on the energy theory of value. The theory is based on a partially closed Leontief's model to include labor and government into the transaction matrix. The paper discusses the methodological issues connected to these modifications of traditional input-output analysis and proposes some improvements (regarding gross capital formation) with empirical reference to the Italian economy for the year 2015. The correlation between the embedded energy and the economic value emerging from the results demonstrates the interdependence between energy inputs and economic outputs. As claimed by Costanza (1980) this seriously compromises the possibility of a real decoupling. The emerging correlation rather suggests to consider the energy-work as primary factor of production. Finally, the opportunity of extending the concept of work in a physical sense offers the possibility of linking the classical approach regarding value with the more recent World-Ecology conceptual framework.
Abstract (ITA) Domande come "che cos'è il valore?" e "come si forma?" hanno accompagnato il dibattito dell'economia politica sin dalla sua nascita. Nonostante la sua natura costitutiva, consultando gli oltre 5700 articoli comparsi sulla rivista "Ecological Economics", solo otto di questi fanno riferimento alla "teoria del valore". Il presente contributo vuole ricostruire il dibattito riguardo le teorie del valore con particolare attenzione alle teorie energetiche. L'ipotesi è basata su di un modello di Leontief parzialmente chiuso per includere i settori del consumo privato e del governo all'interno della matrice delle transazioni. Il paper affronta le problematiche metodologiche legate a queste modifiche dell'analisi input-output tradizionale, propone alcuni miglioramenti (riguardanti gli investimenti lordi) e ne testa la validità con un riferimento empirico all'economia italiana per l'anno 2015. La correlazione emergente tra l'energia incorporata e il valore economico dimostra l'interdipendenza tra gli input energetici e gli output economici. Come sostenuto da Costanza (1980) questo compromette seriamente la possibilità di un reale disaccoppiamento tra loro. D'altra parte, la correlazione risultante suggerisce di prendere in considerazione l'energia-lavoro come fattore produttivo originario. Infine, l'opportunità di estendere il concetto di lavoro in un'accezione fisica offre la possibilità di legare l'approccio classico riguardo il valore con il più recente schema concettuale della World-Ecology.
... While the contribution of ecological anthropology to ecological economics has been documented (Røpke 2004;Hornborg 2017), the anthropological study of resource transformation, labour, institutions, and cultural adaptability in EA has not yet been acknowledged to the same extent. Hornborg (2017) remarks that ecological anthropology influences have suffered from the chicken-and-egg debate over which one is more dominant over the other, the material base or the institutional structure of society. ...
... The first school emphasizes eXergy, an entropic indicator which quantifies work as the difference between initial and final available energy (Ayres et al., 1969). The second school fo-cuses on Energy Return On Investment (EROI), accounting for energy available after deduction of extraction and production energy (Røpke, 2004). These schools can also be distinguished by the concepts of "embedded energy" and "energy costs". ...
Georgescu-Roegen’s (G-R) non-reductionist perspective (Couix, 2020)
emphasizes the recognition of the physical foundations and specific functio-ning of the economic process. G-R argues that economists are the only scientists who can afford the luxury of ignoring the laws of thermodynamics, particularly the second law regarding entropy increase (Georgescu-Roegen, 1971).
However, G-R vehemently opposes the formulation of an energy theory of
value, particularly in the version proposed by Costanza (1980), dismissing it
as a “purely fantastical construction, engaged in algebraic exercises devoid of
any connection to the real facts of economic life” (Georgescu-Roegen, 1998).
Costanza (1980), on the other hand, demonstrates the correlation between monetary output and embodied energy at the sectoral level, including the energy
costs of labour and government services. However, he uses this relationship
to argue for the self-regulatory capacity of markets in optimally allocating
resources. This article aims to analyze the relationship between the author and
theories of value in order to identify possible points of contact between G-R’s
analysis, the classical economics approach to value, and the more recent theories of World-Ecology (Moore, 2017).
... Fruitful developments can thus be made. Røpke (2004) traces back the theoretical origins of ecological economics as a field of research to the Physiocrats, who first saw the link between land production and economic production, and to the development of thermodynamics in the middle of 19th century, which allows economic processes to be described in a physical way, as transfers of energy and matter. One of the main contributors in the development of economics as a part thermodynamic science is Georgescu-Roegen (1971), but other authors, such as chemical researchers Soddy (1926) and Ostwald (1908), also tried to establish a link between physical and social sciences. ...
Max-Neef attempted to build the foundations for a new and revolutionary way to scientifically investigate the relationships between humans and nature. It rose from a rejection of economic theory, both mainstream and heterodox. This chapter will present the reasons why Max-Neef was critical of heterodox theories, discuss his rationale and seek to understand whether a bridge could be built between Max-Neef's contributions and both mainstream and heterodox theories. This chapter will identify whether the critiques which Max-Neef had in mind could apply to the theory of Piero Sraffa. Sraffa's theory of value was a development of the Marxist theory of value and was used as a critique of mainstream economic theory as well as a constructive tool for post-Keynesian dynamic models and an inspiration for circular economy and ecological economics. Sraffa could be considered a central heterodox figure; therefore, by linking their theory with Max-Neef's, this chapter seeks to identify links between heterodox theories and Max-Neef's thinking.
... Furthermore, to build co-creative partnerships with nature, shareholders and investors invest a high share of financial returns to improve other forms of capital than only financial, with a focus on natural capital (Fullerton, 2015). This is based on ecological economics, a transdisciplinary field that has researched the interdependencies and the coevolution of human societies and natural ecosystems since the late 1980s (Røpke, 2004). Natural capital refers to a stock of natural resources, including ecosystems, that provide a flow of goods and services to humans and organizations, also called ecosystem services, i.e., the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems (Hernández-Blanco and Costanza, 2018). ...
Regeneration has become a debated topic in organizational studies, yet its characteristics and distinctions from sustainability and circular business models remain unclear. This study aims to provide an initial framework for regenerative business models and differentiate them from sustainable or circular models. Employing literature reviews, six focus groups with international and indigenous participants, and comparisons with seminal articles on sustainable and circular models, this study finds that organizations with regenerative business models focus on planetary health and societal wellbeing. They create and deliver value at multiple stakeholder levels—including nature, societies, customers, suppliers and partners, shareholders and investors, and employees—through activities promoting regenerative leadership, co-creative partnerships with nature, and justice and fairness. Capturing value through multi-capital accounting, they aim for a net positive impact across all stakeholder levels. Regenerative business models share design approaches with sustainable and circular models but differ in their main goals and systemic perspectives. Achieving regenerative business models requires strong policy frameworks, including animal and nature rights and true pricing. Further research is needed to explore how organizations can incorporate intrinsic notions of value beyond capital and avoid new forms of greenwashing when adopting regeneration and net positive impact narratives.
... The solution is its restriction, which is impossible to implement in a capitalist economy. As a mechanism for the transition to a green economy, ecological economics propose an increase in taxation on the use of natural resources while reducing the tax burden on other factors of production (Røpke, 2004). The post-Keynesian school considers a number of problems delaying green growth, highlighting the low flow of investment in green projects as the main fundamental uncertainty (Fontana & Sawyer, 2016). ...
Russia has entered the contours of the modern global ecosystem in sustainable finance and responsible investment practices. Its national projects are complex and ensure a balance of all three components of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental factors. In 2019, an active formation of the green finance market took place in Russia. The green economy was officially proclaimed by the federal government and industry experts. Target programs for environmental protection were adopted at the national and regional levels, taking into account the ecological specifics of the regions. However, the Russian economy is highly dependent on the extraction of mineral resources and hydrocarbons (e.g., oil and gas). This chapter investigates the Russian federal government's policies to resolve the ongoing environmental issues in the country. This involves the critical evaluation of various state programs, the effectiveness of their implementation, and the examination of the legislation and macro statistics. The following conclusions have been made. The national strategy for financing sustainable development has an unclear structure with incomplete coverage and an unsystematic approach. Hence, the transition to the model of green economic growth is questionable. The definition of the green economy is not adequately formed; thus, it is challenging for the government and businesses to measure, manage and regulate it. As a result, it complicates the formation of financing mechanisms for green investments. This is also constrained by the lack of general agreement on which sectors of the national economy are recognised as negatively affecting the environment and which are not.
... Because neoclassical economics is not designed to handle a complex social and environmental problem, ecological economics moved away and created its theoretical economic framework during the 1960s and 1970s (Ayres & Kneese, 1971;Ayres, Kneese, & d'Arge, 1970). Ecological economics has some unique features that do not exist in environmental economics (Røpke, 2004). Ecological economics could be classified as an interdisciplinary branch of knowledge with some influence over various sciences, such as social science, biological science, and political science (Ropke, 2004(Ropke, , 2005. ...
To solve global ecological crisis and promote the development of economy and society environmental friendly, changing the mode of economic growth is important. However, ecological economics goes beyond environmental economics and critique on traditional economics. New concepts and theoretical research approaches should be brought in to a special stage of economic growth called zero-growth economy and also, shouldering the task of moderating social economic contradictions. Ecological economics takes more complicated approaches to environmental problems and focuses on long-term environmental sustainability and issues of scale. It can been seen that keeping sustainable ability of ecological environment through international cooperation will realize the harmonious development of social economy, the best welfare for human beings, therefore, the view of sustainable development has deep and wide connotations.
Стаття відображає ключові тенденції та виклики сучасної світової економіки. Автори підкреслюють, що системні структурні трансформації, що охопили усі підсистеми світової економіки за останні чотири десятиліття, демонструють виражений дуалізм розвитку та поглиблення асиметрій у розподілі вигод і загроз глобалізації. Описані явища, такі як технологічне оновлення, інтелектуалізація, інноватизація, цифровізація та глобалізація економічної діяльності, відповідають реаліям промислової революції. В статті акцент зроблено на загостренні екологічних проблем та неспроможності забезпечити довгострокову структурну рівновагу свідчить про нагальність обговорюваних тем для формування стратегій сталого розвитку. Ці виклики обумовлюють потребу в глибокому переосмисленні взаємозв’язків між економічною діяльністю, соціальними процесами та навколишнім середовищем. Доведено, що актуальним стає дослідження теоретичних основ екологічної економіки, які б враховували нові реалії та сприяли розробці інноваційних підходів до управління природними ресурсами та збереження екологічного балансу. Визначені нові парадигми, які забезпечать сталий розвиток та мінімізацію негативних наслідків глобальних екологічних та економічних змін.
O desenvolvimento sustentável tem sido condicionado ao crescimento econômico, leia-se aumento do Produto Interno Bruto (PIB). Em razão dos limites impostos pelo subsistema natural, a resolução dos problemas socioambientais não pode ser condicionada ao crescimento do PIB. As mudanças climáticas são evidências de que a sociedade tenha ultrapassado a capacidade de suporte do ecossistema global. Contudo, a discussão sobre os limites do crescimento tem sido restrita aos países desenvolvidos. Neste contexto, o objetivo principal deste trabalho é apresentar alguns elementos que possam reforçar a hipótese de que países em desenvolvimento também deveriam adotar políticas para reduzir o ritmo de crescimento. A análise foi realizada para o Brasil, a partir da perspectiva da escala econômica necessária. Os resultados sugerem que a sociedade brasileira talvez já possa pensar em uma sociedade pós-crescimento, porque o PIB seria estar.
A história da humanidade apresenta elementos de transições paradigmáticas que são desencadeadas de tempos em tempos. Este ensaio tem como objetivo apresentar uma linha temporal, da idade média até a contemporaneidade, destacando teorias do pensamento humano e das ciências, a partir de aspectos econômicos, sociais e ambientais, que evidenciam elementos de transitoriedade até a postulação de teorias pós-desenvolvimentistas, sob a denominação das ecossocioeconomias, da qual pressupõe a economia ecológica. Levantou-se o estado da arte sobre o tema transitoriedade, a partir da leitura de livros e artigos de referência. Por meio de uma abordagem retrospectiva, efetuou-se um recorte temporal histórico desde a transição do sistema feudal ao advento do capitalismo em sua fase inicial, revolução industrial até a os dias atuais. Foi analisado/apresentado o surgimento de teorias e paradigmas, que balizam de certa forma o pensamento e a vida social. Fica evidente a influência do sistema capitalista no processo histórico humano, estendendo-se de forma contínua até o presente momento. No entanto, elementos das chamadas ecossocioeconomias, com componente da economia ecológica, se fazem presente, o que no seu conjunto pode caracterizar uma transitoriedade epistemológica antipositivista que em suas concepções prioriza aspectos transdisciplinar e valorização das questões socioambientais, constituindo-se como alternatividades às racionalidades do sistema econômico hegemônico vigente.
The concept of Earth as a planetary spaceship serves as a root metaphor of ecological economics, sustainability science, and the broader environmental movement. This article first explores the origins of this metaphor and elucidates the core components and functions of a hypothetical Spaceship Earth. It then draws on Erving Goffman’s characteristics of total institutions to show that such a spaceship would epitomise the most total institution ever known in human history. Acknowledging the continued influence of spaceship thinking, the article concludes by offering first hints to emergency exits from a planetary total institution with no mission other than
orbiting another celestial body.
Resumen El concepto de sistema teórico proveniente de la economía política permite comprender el carácter sistémico de la economía ecológica y trascender la discusión alrededor de si se trata de una corriente del pensamiento económico, una subdisciplina de la economía o si es parte de la economía heterodoxa. La hipótesis principal de este trabajo es que la economía ecológica es el único sistema teórico económico-ecológico que tiene coherencia interna. Esta sugiere dos cuestiones centrales. En primer lugar, es el único sistema teórico económico-ecológico ya que la economía ambiental es la aplicación ambiental de otro sistema teórico puramente económico como es el neoclásico-marginalista. En segundo lugar, esta conceptualización implica romper con la idea de pensarla como una corriente del pensamiento económico o incluso como parte del pensamiento económico heterodoxo, al tiempo que sí se reconoce la fuerte influencia de otros sistemas teóricos propios de la economía política. Respecto a la literatura que refleja las corrientes de pensamiento al interior de la economía ecológica y la presencia de ciertos autores "grises", afirmar el carácter de sistema teórico no implica negar la existencia de corrientes y líneas internas, sino reafirmar que es justamente el sistema teórico lo que las articula. Palabras clave: sustentabilidad; desmaterialización; capital natural crítico; indicadores biofísicos; intercambio ecológicamente desigual.
Abstract: The concept of theoretical system coming from political economy allows us to understand the systemic nature of ecological economics and transcend the discussion about whether it is a current of economic thought, a subdiscipline of economics or if it is part of heterodox economics. The main hypothesis of this work is that ecological economics is the only economic-ecological theoretical system that has internal coherence. This suggestion is one of the central questions. Firstly, it is the only economic-ecological theoretical system since environmental economics is the environmental application of another purely economic theoretical system such as the neoclassical-marginalist one. Secondly, this conceptualization implies breaking with the idea of thinking about it as a current of economic thought or even as part of heterodox economic thought, recognizing only the strong influence of other theoretical systems specific to political economy. Regarding the literature that reflects the currents of thought within ecological economics and the presence of certain "gray" authors, affirming the character of a theoretical system does not imply denying the existence of currents and internal lines, but rather reaffirming that it is precisely the theoretical system that they articulate.
Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management are imperative for sustaining life on Earth. Despite the growing recognition of its importance outside the field of environmental sciences, biodiversity has been polemically criticized as a fad, arguing that it has become a passing trend in sustainable finance. To foster a comprehensive understanding, we provide a bibliometric analysis of 334 articles in accounting, economics, and finance (AEF) journals retrieved from the Web of Science database. We conduct science mapping and a co-citation analysis to portrait the scientific landscape and research foci. Consistent with previous studies, we find that mainstream AEF journals are largely silent on biodiversity. In addition, research from Asia is severely underrepresented.
This article presents the field of ecological economics field which aims to study the interface of humans or society with nature. It examines the relevance of this field to the study of what is at stake in the Anthropocene and how it differs from more standard economic analyses in environmental and resource economics.
Environmental and natural resource economics lies inherently at the interface between economic and natural dynamics (e.g., geological constraints, climate change, biodiversity evolution). Building models in that field often means building integrated models, calling on knowledge and methods from economics and physics, climatology, biology, or ecology. Howard Scott Gordon’s 1954 article on fishery economics is considered to be seminal in the history of bioeconomic modeling, integrating biological and economic variables in a microeconomic model. Yet the precise role played by biology in Gordon’s initial work remains unclear. On the basis of archival material and thorough analysis of Gordon’s early research, this paper examines Gordon’s model building and his persistent oscillation between two objectives—the production of a heuristic economic model with standard assumptions, and the conception of a predictive policy tool relevant from a fishery-biology standpoint—and how he finally favored the first over the second. Moreover, contrary to received wisdom, we show that it was not Gordon but biologist Milner B. Schaefer who transformed Gordon’s model into an integrated model. These results shed new light not only on Gordon’s 1954 contribution but also on a whole tradition of integrated environmental and natural resource economics models, based on his work.
"Maximum Power" is a synthesis of the creative genius of Howard Thomas Odum as seen through his own words and those of his students, many of whom are now applying his ideas to the world in diverse ways. Offering the holistic, system-oriented thinking of Odum, this in-depth volume examines the interrelationship of humans and n"ature by integrating environment, energy, and economics. "Maximum Power traces the development of Odum's ideas with the objective of providing the conceptual and research history that has led to Odum's far-reaching ideas about making social decisions. The volume is organised along the chronological path that Odum himself followed, from ecology to ecological engineering to ecological economics to his controversial synthesis called 'emergy analysis'.
In this article, we inquire into the intellectual history of the application of the biological concept of metabolism to social systems - not as a metaphor, but as a material and energetic process within the economy and society, vis-àvis various natural systems.The paper reviews several scientific traditions that may contribute to such a view, including biology and ecology, social theory, cultural anthropology, and social geography. It assembles widely scattered approaches dating from the 1860s onward and shows how they prepare the ground for the pioneers of "industrial metabolism" in the late 1960s. In connection to varying political perspectives, metabolism gradually takes shape as a powerful interdisciplinary concept. It will take another 25 years before this approach becomes one of the most important paradigms for the empirical analysis of the society-nature-interaction across various disciplines. This later period will be the subject of part II of this literature review.
Part I (1860-1970)
In this essay, we inquire into the intellectual history of the application of the biological concept metabolism to social systems - not as a metaphor, but as a material and energetic process within economy and society, vis-a-vis various natural systems.The paper reviews several scientific traditions that may contribute to such a view, such as biology and ecology, social theory, cultural anthropology and social geography. It assembles the widely scattered approaches from the 1860s onwards and shows how they prepare the ground for the pioneers of „industrial metabolism“ in the late 1960s. In connection to varying political perspectives, metabolism gradually takes shape as a powerful interdisciplinary concept. It will take another twenty-five years before this approach turns into one of the most important paradigms for the empirical analysis of society-nature-interaction, across various disciplines. This later period will be the subject of a second part of this literature review.
A series of hypotheses is presented about the relation of national energy use to national economic activity (both time series
and cross-sectional) which offer a different perspective from standard economics for the assessment of historical and current
economic events. The analysis incorporates nearly 100 years of time series data and 3 years of cross-sectional data on 87
sectors of the United States economy. Gross national product, labor productivity, and price levels are all correlated closely
with various aspects of energy use, and these correlations are improved when corrections are made for energy quality. A large
portion of the apparent increase in U.S. energy efficiency has been due to our ability to expand the relative use of high-quality
fuels such as petroleum and electricity, and also to relative shifts in fuel use between sectors of the economy. The concept
of energy return on investment is introduced as a major driving force in our economy, and data are provided which show a marked
decline in energy return on investment for all our principal fuels in recent decades. Future economic growth will depend largely
on the net energy yield of alternative fuel sources, and some standard economic models may need to be modified to account
for the biophysical constraints on human economic activity.
Biophysical economics is characterized by a wide range of analysis from diverse fields who use basic ecological and thermodynamic principles to analyze the economic process. The history of biophysical thought is traced from the 18th-century Physiocrats to current empirical research, with emphasis on those individuals who contributed to the development of biophysical economic theory. Attention is also given to a critique of the neoclassical theory of natural resources from a biophysical perspective, and how recent empirical biophysical research highlights areas of neoclassical theory which could be improved by a more relatistic and systematic treatment of natural resources.
Observations of island fauna and flora have long been important in ecology and have given rise to theoretical speculation. Theories originally developed for islands have proven to have a much wider applicability (MacArthur Wilson, 1963, 1967). Island biogeography research has also generated insights into the nature of man — environment relationships (Rappaport, 1963). A study of the Fiji Islands elucidated the vulnerability of ecosystems to natural disasters as well as to stresses imposed by man (Brookfield, 1981). Recently the importance of indigenous and imported energy sources to the economic future of an isolated region was studied in the island state of Hawaii (Shupe, 1982). It seems that several advantages can be gained by selecting islands to collect necessary empirical information and to generate new insights into problems related to regional planning.
In this classic study, the authors assess the importance of technological change and resource substitution in support of their conclusion that resource scarcity did not increase in the Unites States during the period 1870 to 1957. Originally published in 1963.
Preface Notation guide 1. Introduction Part I. The Physical Economy-Environment System: 2. Closed physical systems: a model 3. Structure and time in the physical system 4. Technological change and the environmental constraints to physical growth Part II. The Economic System: 5. The price system 6. Prices, property, and the environment 7. Economic conflict and environmental change Part III. Environmental Strategies in an Evolutionary Economy-Environment System: 8. Time, uncertainty, and external effects 9. The market solution 10. The stationary state 11. Conclusions References Index.
THIS REVIEW EXPLORES BOTH ECOLOGICAL THEORY AND THE BEHAVIOR OF NATURAL SYSTEMS TO SEE IF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF THEIR BEHAVIOR CAN YIELD DIFFERENT INSIGHTS THAT ARE USEFUL FOR BOTH THEORY AND PRACTICE. THE RESILIENCE AND STABILITY VIEWPOINTS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS CAN YIELD VERY DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THE MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES. THE STABILITY VIEW EMPHASIZES THE EQUILIBRIUM, THE MAINTENANCE OF A PREDICTABLE WORLD, AND THE HARVESTING OF NATURE'S EXCESS PRODUCTION WITH AS LITTLE FLUCTUATION AS POSSIBLE. THE RESILIENCE VIEW EMPHASIZES DOMAINS OF ATTRACTION AND THE NEED FOR PERSISTENCE. BUT EXTINCTION IS NOT PURELY A RANDOM EVENT: IT RESULTS FROM THE INTERACTION OF RANDOM EVENTS WITH THOSE DETERMINISTIC FORCES THAT DEFINE THE SHAPE, SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DOMAIN OF ATTRACTION. THE VERY APPROACH, THEREFORE, THAT ASSURES A STABLE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED YIELD OF A RENEWABLE RESOURCE, MIGHT SO CHANGE THESE CONDITIONS THAT THE RESILIENCE IS LOST OR IS REDUCED SO THAT A CHANCE AND RARE EVENT THAT PREVIOUSLY COULD BE ABSORBED CAN TRIGGER A SUDDEN DRAMATIC CHANGE AND LOSS OF STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SYSTEM. A MANAGEMENT APPROACH BASED ON RESILIENCE, ON THE OTHER HAND, WOULD EMPHASIZE THE NEED TO KEEP OPTIONS OPEN, THE NEED TO VIEW EVENTS IN A REGIONAL RATHER THAN A LOCAL CONTEXT, AND THE NEED TO EMPHASIZE HETEROGENEITY. THE RESILIENCE FRAMEWORK DOES NOT REQUIRE A PRECISE CAPACITY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE BUT ONLY A QUALITATIVE CAPACITY TO DEVISE SYSTEMS THAT CAN ABSORB AND ACCOMMODATE FUTURE EVENTS IN WHATEVER UNEXPECTED FORM THEY MAY TAKE.
In a rapidly changing and inter-disciplinary world it is important to understand the nature and generation of knowledge, and its social organization. Increasing attention is paid in the social sciences and management studies to the constitution and claims of different theories, perspectives,and 'paradigms'. This book is one of the most respected and robust analyses of these issues. For this new paperback edition Richard Whitley - a leading figure in European business education - has written a new introduction which addresses the particular epistemological issues presented by management and business studies. He approaches the sciences as differently organized systems for theproduction and validation of knowledge - systems which become established in particular contexts and which generate different sorts of knowledge. He identifies seven major types of scientific field and discusses the establishment and growth of these sciences, including the major consequences of thenineteenth-century expansion of employment opportunities for researchers; the competitive pursuit of public reputations; and the domination of intellectual work by employees. He also examines the divergences in the way research is organized and controlled both in different fields, and in the samefield within different historical circumstances. This book will be of interest to all graduate students concerned with the social study of knowledge, science, technology, and the history and philosophy of science.
Abstract From modest beginnings in the 1960s, environmental economics has grown to be a major subdiscipline of economics. It combines traditional work in the field of welfare economics and the theory of economic growth with more recent perspectives on the political economy of choosing policy instruments and the philosophy of sustainable development. The central tenets are that environmental problems have their roots in the failure of economic systems to maximize human well-being, that environmental quality matters for human well-being and for more traditionally oriented economic growth objectives, and that efficient policy can be achieved through incentive design.
Starting from a physiological analogy with the nutrition of living bodies, classical theorists from Hobbes to Senior and J.S. Mill developed a nascent materials-flow analysis of production which recognized an underlying physical interdependence in economic activities. Neoclassical theory, by contrast, took its tools and methods from analytical mechanics. It not only ignored material and energy flows from and to the environment, its basic physical assumptions (marginal productivity) are inconsistent with the principles governing material and energy transformations. The development of an ecological economics requires a radical reformulation of economic theory. This paper suggests that a synthesis of the classical production model with the insights of an ecological and systems approach offers an important direction for the future integration of a physical, informational and organizational approach to economic activity.