Beyond Growth : The Economics of Sustainable Development

The shape of current thought on sustainable development -- I: Economic theory and sustainable development -- 1. Moving to a steady-state economy -- 2. Elements of environmental macroeconomics -- 3. Consumption: value added, physical transformation, and welfare -- II: Operational policy and sustainable development -- 4. Operationalizing sustainable development by investing in natural capital -- 5. Fostering environmentally sustainable development; four parting suggestions for the world bank -- III: National accounts and sustainable development -- 6. Toward a measure of sustainable net national product -- 7. On sustainable development and national accounts -- IV: Population and sustainable development -- 8. Carrying capacity as a tool of development policy: the Ecuadoran Amazon and the Paraguayan Chaco -- 9. Marx and Malthus in Northeast Brazil: a note on the world's largest class difference in fertility and its recent trends -- V: International trade and sustainable development -- 10. Free trade and globalization vs. environment and community -- 11. From adjustment to sustainable development: the obstacle of free trade -- VI: Two pioneers in the economics of sustainable development -- 12. The economic thought of Frederick Soddy -- 13. On Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen's contributions to economics: an obituary essay -- VII: Ethics, religion, and sustainable development -- 14. A biblical economic principle and the sustainable economy -- 15. Sustainable development: from religious insight to ethical principle to public policy.;Herman Daly is probably the most prominent advocate of the need for a change in economic thinking in response to environmental crisis. an iconoclast economist who has worked as a renegade insider at the World Bank in recent years, Daly has argued for overturning some basic economic assumptions. He has a wide and growing reputation among environmentalists, both inside and outside the academy. Daly argues that if sustainable development means anything at this historical moment, it demands that we conceive of the economy as part of the ecosystem and, as a result, give up on the ideal of economic growth. We need a global understanding of developing welfare that does not entail expansion. These simple ideas turn out to be fundamentally radical concepts, and basic ideas about economic theory, poverty, trade, and population have to be discarded or rethought, as Daly shows in careful, accessible detail.;These are questions with enormous practical consequences. Daly argues that there is a real fight to control the meaning of "sustainable development," and that conventional economists and development thinkers are trying to water down its meaning to further their own ends. Beyond Growth is an argument that will turn the debate around. Herman Daly Is Probably The Most Prominent Advocate Of The Need For A Change In Economic Thinking In Response To Environmental Crisis. An Iconoclast Economist Who Has Worked As A Renegade Insider At The World Bank In Recent Years, Daly Has Argued For Overturning Some Basic Economic Assumptions. He Has A Wide And Growing Reputation Among Environmentalists, Both Inside And Outside The Academy. Daly Argues That If Sustainable Development Means Anything At This Historical Moment, It Demands That We Conceive Of The Economy As Part Of The Ecosystem And, As A Result, Give Up On The Ideal Of Economic Growth. We Need A Global Understanding Of Developing Welfare That Does Not Entail Expansion. These Simple Ideas Turn Out To Be Fundamentally Radical Concepts, And Basic Ideas About Economic Theory, Poverty, Trade, And Population Have To Be Discarded Or Rethought, As Daly Shows In Careful, Accessible Detail. These Are Questions With Enormous Practical Consequences. Daly Argues That There Is A Real Fight To Control The Meaning Of Sustainable Development, And That Conventional Economists And Development Thinkers Are Trying To Water Down Its Meaning To Further Their Own Ends. Beyond Growth Is An Argument That Will Turn The Debate Around. The Shape Of Current Thought On Sustainable Development -- I: Economic Theory And Sustainable Development -- 1. Moving To A Steady-state Economy -- 2. Elements Of Environmental Macroeconomics -- 3. Consumption: Value Added, Physical Transformation, And Welfare -- Ii: Operational Policy And Sustainable Development -- 4. Operationalizing Sustainable Development By Investing In Natural Capital -- 5. Fostering Environmentally Sustainable Development; Four Parting Suggestions For The World Bank -- Iii: National Accounts And Sustainable Development -- 6. Toward A Measure Of Sustainable Net National Product -- 7. On Sustainable Development And National Accounts -- Iv: Population And Sustainable Development -- 8. Carrying Capacity As A Tool Of Development Policy: The Ecuadoran Amazon And The Paraguayan Chaco -- 9. Marx And Malthus In Northeast Brazil: A Note On The World's Largest Class Difference In Fertility And Its Recent Trends -- V: International Trade And Sustainable Development -- 10. Free Trade And Globalization Vs. Environment And Community -- 11. From Adjustment To Sustainable Development: The Obstacle Of Free Trade -- Vi: Two Pioneers In The Economics Of Sustainable Development -- 12. The Economic Thought Of Frederick Soddy -- 13. On Nicholas Georgescu-roegen's Contributions To Economics: An Obituary Essay -- Vii: Ethics, Religion, And Sustainable Development -- 14. A Biblical Economic Principle And The Sustainable Economy -- 15. Sustainable Development: From Religious Insight To Ethical Principle To Public Policy. Herman E. Daly. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 241-245) And Index.

Named one of a hundred "visionaries who could change your life" by the Utne Reader, Herman Daly has probably been the most prominent advocate of the need for a change in economic thinking in response to environmental crisis. An iconoclast economis t who has worked as a renegade insider at the World Bank in recent years, Daly has argued for overturning some basic economic assumptions. He has won a wide and growing reputation among a wide array of environmentalists, inside and outside the academy.

In a book that will generate controversy, Daly turns his attention to the major environmental debate surrounding "sustainable development." Daly argues that the idea of sustainable development--which has become a catchword of environmentalism and international finance--is being used in ways that are vacuous, certainly wrong, and probably dangerous. The necessary solutions turn out to be muc h more radical than people suppose.

This is a crucial updating of a major economist's work, and mandatory reading for people engaged in the debates about the environment.

"Daly is turning economics inside out by putting the earth and its diminishing natural resources at the center of the field . . . a kind of reverse Copernican revolution in economics."

--Utne Reader

Booknews

If you're beginning to feel that the phrase "sustainable development" might be going down the semantic doublespeak path where being fired from your job is now dubbed "occupationally challenged," then Daly is the economist for you. The innovative scholar and World Bank rabble rouser argues that the catchword of environmentalists and international financiers is being used by both to further their own ends. Sustainable development, as conceived by Daly, becomes a radical proposition of economy as part of the ecosystem, requiring that we give up an ideal of economic growth and reevaluate basic ideas about economic theory, poverty, trade, and population. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"Daly is turning economics inside out by putting the earth and its diminishing natural resources at the center of the field . . . a kind of reverse Copernican revolution in economics." —Utne Reader "Considered by most to be the dean of ecological economics, Herman E. Daly elegantly topples many shibboleths in Beyond Growth. Daly challenges the conventional notion that growth is always good, and he bucks environmentalist orthodoxy, arguing that the current focus on 'sustainable development' is misguided and that the phrase itself has become meaningless." —Mother Jones "In Beyond Growth, . . . [Daly] derides the concept of 'sustainable growth' as an oxymoron. . . . Calling Mr. Daly 'an unsung hero,' Robert Goodland, the World Bank's top environmental adviser, says, 'He has been a voice crying in the wilderness.'" —G. Pascal Zachary, The Wall Street Journal "A new book by that most far-seeing and heretical of economists, Herman Daly. For 25 years now, Daly has been thinking through a new economics that accounts for the wealth of nature, the value of community and the necessity for morality." —Donella H. Meadows, Los Angeles Times "For clarity of vision and ecological wisdom Herman Daly has no peer among contemporary economists. . . . Beyond Growth is essential reading." —David W. Orr, Oberlin College "There is no more basic ethical question than the one Herman Daly is asking." —Hal Kahn, The San Jose Mercury News "Daly's critiques of economic orthodoxy . . . deliver a powerful and much-needed jolt to conventional thinking." —Karen Pennar, Business Week Named one of a hundred "visionaries who could change your life" by the Utne Reader, Herman Daly is the recipient of many awards, including a Grawemeyer Award, the Heineken Prize for environmental science, and the "Alternative Nobel Prize," the Right Livelihood Award. He is professor at the University of Maryland's School of Public Affairs, and coauthor with John Cobb, Jr., of For the Common Good. "Herman Daly is probably the most prominent advocate of the need for a change in economic thinking in response to environmental crisis. an iconoclast economist who has worked as a renegade insider at the World Bank in recent years, Daly has argued for overturning some basic economic assumptions. He has a wide and growing reputation among environmentalists, both inside and outside the academy. Daly argues that if sustainable development means anything at this historical moment, it demands that we conceive of the economy as part of the ecosystem and, as a result, give up on the ideal of economic growth. We need a global understanding of developing welfare that does not entail expansion. These simple ideas turn out to be fundamentally radical concepts, and basic ideas about economic theory, poverty, trade, and population have to be discarded or rethought, as Daly shows in careful, accessible detail. These are questions with enormous practical consequences. Daly argues that there is a real fight to control the meaning of "sustainable development", and that conventional economists and development thinkers are trying to water down its meaning to further their own ends. Beyond Growth is an argument that will turn the debate around."--Http://www.powells.com (Jan. 26, 2011.)