About this book
This reference discusses the problems of ecological and economic crises and explains how they are the product of the overextension of resources. The book summarizes the standard approach of economics and integrates it with ecology. It explains the connection between financial collapse and climate change and emphasizes that movement along the path towards economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability begins with the individual. The authors provide an entire chapter of advice on reconciling economics and ecology and reaching goals of sustainability.
Contents
METHODOLOGICAL OVERVIEW
Symptomatic Analysis: Cause and effect Linear Rather Than Cyclical Efficient Rather Than Effective Redundancies Rather Than Backups Selective Accountability Systemic Analysis: Cause and Effect Cyclical Rather Than Linear Effective Rather Than Efficient Full Accountability An Evolutionary View of America
ENERGY - THE CRITICAL RESOURCE
Energy Flows are the Only Real Economy Follow the Energy, not the Money Lessons from the Laws of Thermodynamics Inviolate Biophysical Principles Over population plus Greater Longevity Has Human Culture Beyond Global Carrying Capacity Biological Carrying Capacity Versus Cultural Capacity The Tragedy of Cultural Material Destruction from Armed Conflicts
ECONOMICS IN THEORY AND PRACTICE INNATE NATURE OF ECONOMICS
The Meaning of Scarcity Achieving Human Survival From Needs to Wants and Subsistence to Wealth Economics and Sustainability are Uncomfortable at Best Economics has been Misused in Practice Growth as Economic Religion
PRODUCTION
Original Intention to Meet Human Needs From the Earth Goal In Practice Has Been Unlimited Production Resources Assumed Essentially Limitless Reconciling the Differences Focusing on Quality Conserves Resources; Focusing on Quantity Squanders Them
CONSUMPTION
Originally: Consume for Survival In Practice: Assume Insatiability Affluence as an Unmitigated Good Goal Has Become Unlimited Wealth, Not Subsistence Consuming Within the Planet's Budget Toward an Economics of Enough
DISTRIBUTION
The Question of Who Gets What Distribution is the All-Important Ignored Element Economic Methodology Doesn't Allow Redistribution Greater Inequality Exacerbates All Economic Problems Increased Equity and Social Justice: The Key to Real Sustainability
EXTERNALITIES - NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
Understanding the Language Market Failure Spillover Effects Market Leakages External Costs and Benefits Imperfect Property Rights Informed Denial No Independent Variable in Nature Nothing is Reversible-No Such Thing as "Restoration" Cannot Simultaneously Maximize Quality and Quantity The Economist's Answer: Internalize the Externalities
MACROECONOMICS - STILL HELPFUL IN AN AGE OF SCARCITY?
The Keynesian Dilemma: Unemployment or Inflation? Keynesian Solution Doesn't Apply Age of Scarcity Changes the Paradigm Unemployment vs. Inflation is not the Question Growth as Policy Cannot Work Permanently The Ultimate Tragedy: A Growing Economy, A Planet in Peril
RECONCILIATION AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE THE MEANING OF CUL TURALIECONOMICIENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
The Three Pillars of Sustainability Economic Penance Ecological Integrity Social Equity Sustainability in Practice has Ignored Social/Community Aspect Emphasis has been on Technology of Economics and Ecology Without Cultural Values Shifts, Sustainability will not Occur Need for Systemic Analysis Revisited
IMAGINING THE IDEAL WORLD
Dynamic Cultural Change Must be Bottom Up Local Resources Employing Local People for Local Markets Federal Government Should Support But Stay Out of the Way Globalization and Centralization not the Answer Building a New Economy Based on Needs
ADVICE FOR GETTING THERE
Assessing Local Capabilities - We Have More Than We Think Recognizing That We Are the Market Labor Force is Present Managerial Talent is Present Recapture Finance from Wall Street Communities Must Actively Plan Their Own Futures Broad-based Participation a Necessity Localism and Regionalism Evolve Toward the Ideal The Ecological Economic Imperative Revisited
Customer Reviews
Biography
Russ Beaton received his bachelor's degree from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and his Master's and Ph.D. degrees from Claremont University, California. His original training was in mathematical economics and econometrics, although his doctoral thesis was in location theory and urban land economics, which became a lifetime interest. After teaching for 3 years at California State College at Fullerton (now Fullerton State University), and 4 years at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Beaton returned to his alma mater, Willamette University, where he taught economics and did research for 33 years. He has consulted and done policy-based contract research for at least six different agencies of the State of Oregon, in areas such as land use, agriculture, timber, transportation, energy, housing, and general economic policy. Beaton is coauthor with Chris Maser of two other books and participated in drafting the legislation, passed by the 1973 Oregon Legislature, that created Oregon's widely acclaimed land use planning system. Chris Maser was trained in zoology and ecology and worked for 25 years as a research scientist in agricultural, coastal, desert, forest, valley grassland, shrub steppe, and subarctic settings in various parts of the world before realizing that science is not designed to answer the vast majority of questions society is asking it to address. Maser gave up active scientific research in 1987 and has since worked to unify scientific knowledge with social values in helping to create sustainable communities and landscapes, part of which entails his facilitating the resolution of social-environmental conflicts. He has contributed to more than 286 publications, including 34 books, mostly dealing with some aspect of social-environmental sustainability. Although he has worked and lectured in Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Slovakia, and Switzerland, he calls Corvallis, Oregon, home.
