Michael A. Toman - Böcker

This important collection of essays from the leading writers in the field, focuses on the importance of taking environmental issues into account in the process of development and poverty reduction. This book deepens our understanding of environmental sustainability in a context of economic growth, putting sustainable development firmly back on the agenda.

Economic growth as we know it today cannot persist indefinitely if it entails continuous degradation of natural resources and the environment. While in a few countries around the world it appears that environmental degradation has been the result of rapid economic growth, in the vast majority of the developing countries the environment has been equally spoiled despite slow or even negative economic growth. This book provides new insights on the common roots of economic stagnation, poverty and environmental degradation which, unfortunately, generally reside in misguided government policies and priorities. By doing this, the volume seeks to provide a broader policy option framework than those found in conventional policy analyses, mainly dominated by the "Washington Consensus". It shows that a major omission of the conventional view is that governments tend to allocate government expenditures in a biased way favouring subsidies to the economic elites to the detriment of investments in public goods, including human capital, R&D, as well as the development of institutions (environmental and otherwise), which are vital for long run growth, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

Before the late 1980s, when the ideas of sustainability and sustainable development to the forefront of public debate, conventional, neo-classical economic thinking about development and growth had rarely given any consideration to the needs of future generations, or the sustainability of natural resource use. Defining sustainability broadly as intergenerational fairness in the long-term decision making of a whole society, and using established economic concepts, this selection of refereed journal articles brings a famously ill-defined concept into sharp focus, providing academics at all levels with a formidable research tool. Spanning thirty years of the most important philosophical, theoretical and empirical contributions from both critics and defenders of neo-classical assumptions and methods of economic analysis, this focused collection of papers constitutes a unique, balanced resource on the full range of intellectual debates surrounding the economics of sustainability.

his volume brings together and expands on research on the subject of energy T security externalities that we have conducted over a twenty-year period. We were motivated to bring this work together by the lack of a comprehensive analysis of the issues involved that was conveniently located in a single document, by the desire to focus that disparate body of research on the assessment of energy security externalities for policy purposes, and by the continuing concern of researchers and policymakers regarding the issues involved. Many misconceptions about energy security continue to persist in spite of a large body of research to the contrary, and we hope that this volume will help to dispel them. Most of our original research was funded by either the U.S. Department of Energy or Resources for the Future (RFF), and all of it was conducted while we served as staff members of RFF. To these institutions, and to the many individuals who commented on our original work, we wish to express our sincere gratitude. We also wish to express our appreciation to our colleague Margaret Walls for her sub­ stantial contribution to Chapter 7 on transportation policy.

Over the years, a large and growing literature on the economics of climate change has developed. Within this volume the contributors have included a wide range of journal essays that consider the impact of climate change on specific sectors; goods and services; the costs and benefits of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation; and policy design for mitigation, including both domestic instruments and issues related to international agreements.

Protecting environmental quality while pursuing economic development poses a particularly difficult challenge to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, where political and economic systems are changing rapidly following decades of environmental neglect and economic mismanagement. Advanced industrial nations also face difficult decisions about priorities and procedures for providing financial assistance to the region. In order to identify workable solutions, Pollution Abatement Strategies in Central and Eastern Europe investigates some of the leading pollution problems that these countries now face and examines the link between economic restructuring and environmental improvement. Contributors to the volume assess the changes in the region's environmental conditions likely to result from economic restructuring and the benefits that might arise from improvements. They also consider the design of effective environmental policies for economies in transition, including the need to introduce or reform basic economic, legal, and regulatory constructs. Comparisons of incentive-based versus command-and-control environmental policies suggest that, despite the difficulties in implementing them, incentive-based policy options are worth pursuing in Central and Eastern Europe.

Protecting environmental quality while pursuing economic development poses a particularly difficult challenge to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, where political and economic systems are changing rapidly following decades of environmental neglect and economic mismanagement. Advanced industrial nations also face difficult decisions about priorities and procedures for providing financial assistance to the region. In order to identify workable solutions, Pollution Abatement Strategies in Central and Eastern Europe investigates some of the leading pollution problems that these countries now face and examines the link between economic restructuring and environmental improvement. Contributors to the volume assess the changes in the region's environmental conditions likely to result from economic restructuring and the benefits that might arise from improvements. They also consider the design of effective environmental policies for economies in transition, including the need to introduce or reform basic economic, legal, and regulatory constructs. Comparisons of incentive-based versus command-and-control environmental policies suggest that, despite the difficulties in implementing them, incentive-based policy options are worth pursuing in Central and Eastern Europe.

What are the potential adverse impacts of climate change? How can society determine the amount of protection against climate change that is warranted, given the benefits and costs of various policies? In concise, informative chapters, Climate Economics and Policy considers the key issues involved in one of the most important policy debates of our time. Beginning with an overview and policy history, it explores the potential impact of climate change on a variety of domains, including water resources, agriculture, and forests. The contributors then provide assessments of policies that will affect greenhouse gas emissions, including electricity restructuring, carbon sequestration in forests, and early reduction programs. In considering both domestic and international policy options, the authors examine command and control strategies, energy efficiency opportunities, taxes, emissions trading, subsidy reform, and inducements for technological progress. Both policymakers and the general public will find this volume to be a convenient and authoritative guide to climate change risk and policy. It is a useful resource for professional education programs, and an important addition for college courses in environmental economics and environmental studies. Climate Economics and Policy is a collection of Issue Briefs, prepared by the staff of Resources for the Future (RFF) and outside experts. Many are adapted from pieces originally disseminated on Weathervane, RFF‘s acclaimed web site on global climate change.

Over the years, a large and growing literature on the economics of climate change has developed. Within this volume the contributors have included a wide range of journal essays that consider the impact of climate change on specific sectors; goods and services; the costs and benefits of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation; and policy design for mitigation, including both domestic instruments and issues related to international agreements.

Originally published in 1984, Douglas A. Bohi and Michael A. Toman have produced a convenient reference source about disparate elements in the theory of nonrenewable resource supply and about general issues that arise when applying dynamic economic analysis. The authors emphasise the inherently dynamic nature of resource supply decisions, the effects of resource depletion on costs and behaviour, and the influence of uncertainty about costs, prices, and reserves. This title will be useful to students interested in environmental studies and economics, practitioners, and others who need to know more about complex interactions of economic forces and the resource base.

Originally published in 1984, Douglas A. Bohi and Michael A. Toman have produced a convenient reference source about disparate elements in the theory of nonrenewable resource supply and about general issues that arise when applying dynamic economic analysis. The authors emphasise the inherently dynamic nature of resource supply decisions, the effects of resource depletion on costs and behaviour, and the influence of uncertainty about costs, prices, and reserves. This title will be useful to students interested in environmental studies and economics, practitioners, and others who need to know more about complex interactions of economic forces and the resource base.

In 1992, Resources for the Future conducted a workshop concerning the issues of global climate change. This title, originally published in 1993, is a collection of the revised versions of the papers commissioned for the workshop with an added introduction and overview. Each paper emphasises the potential nonlinearities or surprises in physical effects caused by humans loading the atmosphere with greenhouse gases and examines how shifts in the natural environment from climate change may affect human well-being. This collection is a valuable resource for any student interested in environmental studies and climate change issues.

In 1992, Resources for the Future conducted a workshop concerning the issues of global climate change. This title, originally published in 1993, is a collection of the revised versions of the papers commissioned for the workshop with an added introduction and overview. Each paper emphasises the potential nonlinearities or surprises in physical effects caused by humans loading the atmosphere with greenhouse gases and examines how shifts in the natural environment from climate change may affect human well-being. This collection is a valuable resource for any student interested in environmental studies and climate change issues.

Environmental constraints and market uncertainties create new challenges for electricity generation. In this title, originally published in 1991, the authors present a simulation model with a capability for highly detailed activity to identify cost-minimising investment options under different assumptions about demand, costs, regulation, and other economic and environmental factors. Applying the model to two U.S. regions having sharply different electricity demand and supply characteristics, they identify the importance of advanced technologies and augmented electricity trade among regions. This title is ideal for students interested in environmental studies.

Environmental constraints and market uncertainties create new challenges for electricity generation. In this title, originally published in 1991, the authors present a simulation model with a capability for highly detailed activity to identify cost-minimising investment options under different assumptions about demand, costs, regulation, and other economic and environmental factors. Applying the model to two U.S. regions having sharply different electricity demand and supply characteristics, they identify the importance of advanced technologies and augmented electricity trade among regions. This title is ideal for students interested in environmental studies.

What are the potential adverse impacts of climate change? How can society determine the amount of protection against climate change that is warranted, given the benefits and costs of various policies? In concise, informative chapters, Climate Economics and Policy considers the key issues involved in one of the most important policy debates of our time. Beginning with an overview and policy history, it explores the potential impact of climate change on a variety of domains, including water resources, agriculture, and forests. The contributors then provide assessments of policies that will affect greenhouse gas emissions, including electricity restructuring, carbon sequestration in forests, and early reduction programs. In considering both domestic and international policy options, the authors examine command and control strategies, energy efficiency opportunities, taxes, emissions trading, subsidy reform, and inducements for technological progress. Both policymakers and the general public will find this volume to be a convenient and authoritative guide to climate change risk and policy. It is a useful resource for professional education programs, and an important addition for college courses in environmental economics and environmental studies. Climate Economics and Policy is a collection of Issue Briefs, prepared by the staff of Resources for the Future (RFF) and outside experts. Many are adapted from pieces originally disseminated on Weathervane, RFF‘s acclaimed web site on global climate change.

In this volume, a group of distinguished international scholars provides a fresh investigation of the most fundamental issues involved in our dependence on natural resources. In Scarcity and Growth (RFF, 1963) and Scarcity and Growth Reconsidered (RFF, 1979), researchers considered the long-term implications of resource scarcity for economic growth and human well-being. Scarcity and Growth Revisited examines these implications with 25 years of new learning and experience. It finds that concerns about resource scarcity have changed in essential ways. In contrast with the earlier preoccupation with the adequacy of fuel, mineral, and agricultural resources and the efficiency by which they are allocated, the greatest concern today is about the Earth‘s limited capacity to handle the environmental consequences of resource extraction and use. Opinion among scholars is divided on the ability of technological innovation to ameliorate this 'new scarcity.' However, even the book‘s more optimistic authors agree that the problems will not be successfully overcome without significant advances in the legal, financial, and other social institutions that protect the environment and support technical innovation. Scarcity and Growth Revisited incorporates expert perspectives from the physical and life sciences, as well as economics. It includes issues confronting the developing world as well as industrialized societies. The book begins with a review of the debate about scarcity and economic growth and a review of current assessments of natural resource availability and consumption. The twelve chapters that follow provide an accessible, lively, and authoritative update to an enduring-but changing-debate.

In this volume, a group of distinguished international scholars provides a fresh investigation of the most fundamental issues involved in our dependence on natural resources. In Scarcity and Growth (RFF, 1963) and Scarcity and Growth Reconsidered (RFF, 1979), researchers considered the long-term implications of resource scarcity for economic growth and human well-being. Scarcity and Growth Revisited examines these implications with 25 years of new learning and experience. It finds that concerns about resource scarcity have changed in essential ways. In contrast with the earlier preoccupation with the adequacy of fuel, mineral, and agricultural resources and the efficiency by which they are allocated, the greatest concern today is about the Earth‘s limited capacity to handle the environmental consequences of resource extraction and use. Opinion among scholars is divided on the ability of technological innovation to ameliorate this 'new scarcity.' However, even the book‘s more optimistic authors agree that the problems will not be successfully overcome without significant advances in the legal, financial, and other social institutions that protect the environment and support technical innovation. Scarcity and Growth Revisited incorporates expert perspectives from the physical and life sciences, as well as economics. It includes issues confronting the developing world as well as industrialized societies. The book begins with a review of the debate about scarcity and economic growth and a review of current assessments of natural resource availability and consumption. The twelve chapters that follow provide an accessible, lively, and authoritative update to an enduring-but changing-debate.