Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: A Contemporary Approach - Hardcover

Harris, Jonathan M.; Roach, Brian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1138659479 ISBN 13: 9781138659476

Publisher: Routledge, 2017

Environmental issues are of fundamental importance, and a broad approach to understanding the relationship of the human economy and the natural world is essential. In a rapidly changing policy and scientific context, this new edition of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics reflects an updated perspective on modern environmental topics.

Now in its fourth edition, this book includes new material on climate change, the cost-competitiveness of renewable energy, global environmental trends, and sustainable economies. The text provides a balanced treatment of both standard environmental economics and ecological economics, based on the belief that these two approaches are complementary. Several chapters focus on the core concepts of environmental economics, including the theory of externalities, the management of public goods, the allocation of resources across time, environmental valuation, and cost-benefit analysis. Material on ecological economics includes such topics as macroeconomic scale, entropy, and "green" national accounting. Topical chapters focus on: energy; climate change; water resources; international trade; forests; fisheries; and agriculture, with an emphasis on designing effective policies to promote sustainability and a "green" economy.

Harris and Roach’s premise is that a pluralistic approach is essential to understand the complex nexus between the economy and the environment. This perspective, combined with its emphasis on real-world policies, is particularly appealing to both instructors and students. This is the ideal text for classes on environmental, natural resource, and ecological economics.

About the Author:

Jonathan M. Harris is Director of the Theory and Education Program at the Tufts University Global Development and Environment Institute, USA. His current research focuses on the implications of large-scale environmental problems, especially global climate change, for macroeconomic theory and policy.

Brian Roach is Senior Research Associate at the Tufts University Global Development and Environment Institute and a lecturer at Tufts University and Brandeis University, USA. He has published numerous articles on non-market valuation of natural resources, including drinking water quality, water-based recreation, and wildlife.

Review:

‘Since its first edition, this book has been celebrated as a kind of tour-de-force covering environmental and natural resource economics and providing the right balance between the neoclassical and ecological approaches. The fourth edition is clear, informative, appealing to students from the natural sciences, as well as those from social sciences, whilst its new chapters are the first comprehensive treatment of the post COP 21 world. It will be appreciated by all those concerned for the future of the planet.’ ― Professor Alain Alcouffe, Toulouse University, France

‘The book is simply great! It is really one of a kind. It fills an important need in the field, which will become more and more important in the future, no doubt – integrating standard environmental economics and ecological economics. The book is very clear, very informative, flows very well, and indeed is written as a very interesting and fascinating story. The students like it. The additional materials that come with the book are also very good. In short, job well done!’ ― Rafael Reuveny, School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University

‘An important achievement. This is a carefully crafted textbook that should appeal to students from the natural sciences, as well as those from economics and other social sciences. The text covers a number of important topics that most texts neglect, including agricultural sustainability, the relationship between trade and the environment, and the role of local and national institutions in promoting environment-friendly development. The tone of the book is formal yet friendly, and the layout of text, tables, and figures is top notch. Each chapter includes numerous useful links to material on the worldwide web. This book should prove popular with students and instructors alike.’ ― Gerald Shively, Purdue University, USA

‘This is the perfect introductory text covering environmental and natural resource economics. The production is first-rate - very clear and uncluttered, excellent diagrams and examples, well thought out discussion questions and problems. The choice and sequence of topics is excellent and the right balance between the neoclassical and ecological approaches has been provided. It is a most appealing text.’ ― Professor Steven Kemp, Curtin University, Australia

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1138659479
• ISBN 13: 9781138659476
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 666