Ecological Economics

Ecological economics is an exciting interdisciplinary field ofstudy that combines insights from the natural sciences, economics,philosophy and other fields to develop innovative approaches toenvironmental problems. It draws on a wide range of analyticalperspectives, some radical others more conventional, to build amore complete understanding of human-ecosystem interactions.Current research in the field includes work on nature conservation,land use planning, pollution control, natural resource management,and environmental impact assessment/evaluation.

Ecological Economics provides a comprehensiveintroduction to the core themes, presented in a clearly structuredstyle, with chapters tailored specifically to readers without anyeconomic or philosophical training. There is an emphasis throughouton the complementary roles of economics, ethics and ecology inenvironmental decision-making processes. The book reviews theevolution of important ideas in the field, explores the fundamentalphilosophies underlying different approaches to environmentalproblems, explains in detail the specific tools and techniques usedin these approaches, and gives numerous examples of how they can beapplied. Special importance is attached to understanding both theadvantages and limitations of different analyses, in order toprovide a balanced and coherent view of how these differentapproaches interrelate and how their roles vary in differentcontexts.

Written by three authors specializing in ecology, economics andphilosophy, this textbook provides an excellent introduction to thefield of ecological economics for students in the natural sciencesand other environmental disciplines. It will also be of interest toa wide range of professionals and researchers involved inenvironmental management and policy, and thers including economistsseeking to broaden their knowledge of new methodologies andapproaches. Further reading suggestions and extensive referencesare provided for those interested in pursuing particular themesbeyond the introductory level.

* * The first introductory ecological economics text writtenspecifically for natural scientists.

* Assumes no prior knowledge of economics or philosophy.

* Emphasises the complementary roles of ecology, economics andethics in environmental decision-making processes.

* An emphasis on clarity and accessibility throughout.