Offers an evolutionary economics perspective on energy and innovation policies in the wider context of the transition to sustainable development. This work also includes an analysis of the environmental policy implications of evolutionary economics; and a critical examination of Dutch environmental and innovation policies and policy documents.
This book sheds new light on the relationship between economy and the environment by approaching the issue from evolutionary and institutional economics. Building a framework of theory and empirical analysis, it provides an in-depth perspective on how economic growth and environmental policy interact and historically evolve. Orthodox environmental economics usually understands environmental issues under the rules of market economy, while environmental sciences subordinate economy to physical constraints of the environment. Instead of these hierarchical visions, this book recognizes economy and the environment as co-evolving systems. The theoretical framework is elaborated based on the régulation and post-Keynesian theories combined. An idea of three-dimensional factors—capital, labor, and the environment—leads to conceptual and mathematical models, which will be applicable to wider analyses. Using this framework, Japanese history is analyzed as a typical example of environmental policy development. Historical transformations of environmental policies and growth regimes are explained using indices and econometric analysis. Experiences of strict regulations with positive economic impacts are also identified. These works lead to some interesting implications, which include mechanisms, the possibility, and conditions of "green growth''. This book proposes a new approach by bridging the gap between evolutionary–institutional economics and environmental economics, which should be stimulating to them both and possibly open the door for a new research avenue.
This book is designed for those scholars, students, policy-makers – or just curious readers– who are looking for heterodox thinking on the issue of environmental economics and policy. Contributions to this book draw on multiple streams of institutional and evolutionary economics and help build an approach to environmental policy that radically diverges from mainstream prescriptions. No 'silver bullet' solutions emerge from the analyses. Even market-based tools – such as green taxes or tradable pollution permits – are bound to fail if they are not incorporated into an integrated, multi-dimensional and multi-actor policy for structural change.
The subject of this volume is the human economy and its coevolutionary relationship with the natural world. This relationship is examined in three broad types of societies; hunter--gatherers, agriculturalists, and modern market economies. A growing body of scientific evidence has made it clear that the current human impact on the environment is far above the level that can be maintained without causing profound changes in the biophysical world to which we belong. The new fields of ecological economics and evolutionary economics can help us understand the relationship between the economy, society and the environment and may help us to formulate effective policies to manage these changes.
The subject of this volume is the human economy and its coevolutionary relationship with the natural world. This relationship is examined in three broad types of societies; hunter--gatherers, agriculturalists, and modern market economies. A growing body of scientific evidence has made it clear that the current human impact on the environment is far above the level that can be maintained without causing profound changes in the biophysical world to which we belong. The new fields of ecological economics and evolutionary economics can help us understand the relationship between the economy, society and the environment and may help us to formulate effective policies to manage these changes.
Ecological economics seeks to socially construct a political economics which will deal successfully with environmental problems and make the individual more visible in economic analysis. The author describes the principles, strategies and instruments of social change for key players - governmental agencies, business corporations, environmental and religious organizations and universities - and underlines their responsibilities in the market economy. Peter Soderbaum emphasizes the need to articulate ideologies, worldviews, ethics and related scientific perspectives as part of economics, and the importance of pluralism and democratic decision making. His account of the theories and means that will brings us closer to a sustainable society consider tools such as environmental impact assessment (EIA) and describes success indicators such as environmental labelling and environmental management systems (EMS). It highlights strategies and policies that facilitate social change and sets out future agendas for the individual actors in political economics.
This book presents essential insights on environmental policy derived from behavioral economics. The authors demonstrate the potential of behavioral economics to drive environmental protection and to generate concrete proposals for the efficient design of policy instruments. Moreover, detailed recommendations on how to use “nudges” and related instruments to move industry and society toward a sustainable course are presented. This book addresses the needs of environmental economists, behavioral economists and environmental policymakers, as well as all readers interested in the intersection between behavioral economics and environmental policy.
Long-run interactions between the economy and the natural environment are studied from all points of view. First, the aims of this overview are illustrated in Part I. Part II then explores and develops the concept of evolution, in particular distinguishing between evolution which does not involve the emergence of novelty, and evolution where novelty does occur. In Part III three types of time irreversibility are developed, and these concepts are used to show how time has been treated in the natural sciences, also typifying various schools of economic thought. Part IV is concerned with the economic modelling of these concepts. It extends and adapts neo-Austrian capital theory to provide a basis for the modelling of long-run economy-environment interactions. A heuristic simulation model is described, and its simulation results discussed. Part V draws some lessons from the earlier discussion and analysis. It also stresses the role and the importance of interdisciplinary work for the understanding of relationships between economic activity and the natural environment.
