Nature and Wealth [recurso electrónico] : Overcoming Environmental Scarcity and Inequality

Drawing on historical and contemporary evidence, this book argues that growing environmental degradation and wealth inequality are linked to how nature is exploited to create economic wealth. Ending the under-pricing of natural capital and insufficient human capital accumulation is essential to overcoming structural imbalance in modern economies.-- Provided by Publisher The World Economy Today Is Facing Two Major Threats: Increasing Environmental Degradation And A Growing Gap Between Rich And Poor. Drawing On Historical And Contemporary Evidence, This Book Argues That These Two Threats Are Symptomatic Of A Growing Structural Imbalance In All Economies - How Nature Is Exploited To Create Wealth. The Root Of This Imbalance Is That Natural Capital Is Under-priced, And Hence Overly Exploited, Whereas Human Capital Is Insufficient To Meet Demand, Thus Encouraging Inequality. By Adopting A Balanced Wealth Strategy We Can Overcome The Structural Imbalance Between Nature And Wealth That Is Inhibiting Innovation, Growth And Prosperity. The Origins Of Economic Wealth -- Natural Capital And Economic Development -- Wealth, Structure And Functioning Of Modern Economies -- The Age Of Ecological Scarcity -- Structural Imbalance -- The Under-pricing Of Nature -- Wealth Inequality -- Redressing The Structural Imbalance -- Making The Transition -- Conclusion. Edward B. Barbier. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-8 The Origins of Economic Wealth....Pages 9-30 Natural Capital and Economic Development....Pages 31-58 Wealth, Structure and Functioning of Modern Economies....Pages 59-80 The Age of Ecological Scarcity....Pages 81-100 Structural Imbalance....Pages 101-122 The Underpricing of Nature....Pages 123-141 Wealth Inequality....Pages 142-164 Redressing the Structural Imbalance....Pages 165-183 Making the Transition....Pages 184-207 Conclusion....Pages 208-211 Back Matter....Pages 212-270