Environmental Economics: A Very Short Introduction

by Smith, Stephen

• ISBN13: 9780199583584
• ISBN10: 0199583587
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-11-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

In this Very Short Introduction, Stephen Smith shows how the field of environmental economics looks at how economic activity and policy can affect the environment in which we live. The book discusses environmental issues including pollution control, reducing environmental damage, global climate change policies, questions about how we should balance environmental and economic considerations, and what form government policies should take. In recent years, Smith reveals, many economists have argued for greater use of incentives such as pollution charges and emissions trading rather than more traditional direct regulation of polluters. Including many illustrative case studies, this book offers an illuminating introduction to an exciting field of economics.

Author Biography

Stephen Smith is a Professor of Economics at University College London, and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. xi
Abbreviations	p. xiii
List of illustrations	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
The economy and the environment	p. 3
The economic theory of efficient pollution control	p. 14
Environmental policy: instrument choice	p. 38
Economic information and values in environmental policy decisions	p. 70
The economics of climate change	p. 93
References and further reading	p. 129
Index	p. 133
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