What Environmentalists Need to Know About Economics

Easy-to-read and filled with real-world examples of the most complex environmental challenges, this book demonstrates that sound economic analysis and reasoning can be one of the environmental community's strongest allies. This is sure to become an invaluable resource for students, environmental organizations, and policymakers.

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART I: HOW ECONOMISTS APPROACH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES The Root Causes of Environmental Problems Determining the 'Optimum' Amount of Pollution Valuing Ecosystems Putting Monetary Values on the Environment and Living Things Valuing Future Generations Tools to Address Environmental Problems PART II: PUTTING ECONOMIC ANALYSIS TO WORK Climate Change Conservation and Biodiversity Preservation Agriculture Chemical Pollution Fisheries Deforestation Population Growth & Technological Change Demand-Side Interventions Final Thoughts& Additional Resources Comprehensive Reference List

About the Author :
JASON SCORSE Associate Professor and Chair of the International Environmental Policy Program at the Graduate School of International Policy and Management at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, USA.

Review :
"Environmentalists need to understand how markets work (just as it would sure help if economists had some idea how biological systems functioned). This book introduces many of the themes that environmental economists work with, some of which will need to come into play if we're going to deal with catastrophes like climate change." - Bill McKibben, author Earth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet "Economics continues to be one of the most powerful, yet misunderstood tools for environmental management and conservation. Jason Scorse's book will help anyone who cares about the environment move beyond simple ideas of money to understand how economic factors affect the environment and how the environment affects the economic wellbeing of all people." - Linwood Pendelton, Director of Ocean and Coastal Policy, The Nicholas Institute at Duke University "Scorse provides an easy-to-read, non-technical primer on how the problems we face today as environmentalists are fundamentally economic in nature. Excellent background for anyone interested in devising sensible solutions to environmental problems." - Richard E. Rice, Chief Conservation Officer, Save Your World "This book will be a vital resource for those who want to understand the economic underpinnings of environmental policy applied to the most pressing problems we currently face. Professor Scorse puts to rest the notion that economics and the environment are at odds; in fact, sound economic policyis the key for environmental solutions." - Ann Harrison, Director of Economic Development Policy, The World Bank "What Environmentalists Need to Know About Economics is an excellent introduction and overview of the some of the key debates - and underlying theories - in mainstream economics and policy. The book explains in accessible terms the underpinnings of economics which most influence government policies on environmental protection. The book shows how these theories apply to some of the most pressing environmental controversies of the day - such as climate change, forest loss, biodiversity, and pollution - with insights for how economics can actually be used to solve these problems. Environmentalists and students of environmental policy would do well to read this book." - Dara O'Rourke, Professor at UC-Berkeley and founder of Goodguide "At this time of environmental destruction from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, we need a clear understanding of practical economics that this book uniquely provides, to help us move away from policies that undervalue and thus compromise the ecosystems that provide the foundations for our continued economic prosperity." - Dr. Judith Kildow, Director, National Ocean Economics Program (NOEP)