Category: Economic Theory

Agriculture and Climate: Economics and Policy Issues

By Anne-Marie Codur, Jonathan M. Harris and Kayleigh Fay There is increasing evidence that ambitious goals to mitigate climate change, such as those set for by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change cannot be met without a substantial contribution from increased absorption of carbon dioxide by soils, forests and wetlands. This module focuses on the agricultural […]

The Economics of Global Climate Change

by Jonathan M. Harris, Brian Roach and Anne-Marie Codur This module, based on chapters 12 and 13 of Harris and Roach’s textbook, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: A Contemporary Approach, discusses the scientific evidence on climate change, including recent projections on temperature and sea-level rise. It then evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of economic analysis of […]

Green Macroeconomics: Growth and Distribution in a Finite World

By Eric Kemp-Benedict This upper-level module presents the study of “green macroeconomics,” viewing the economy as embedded in society, which is embedded in the environment. The module takes a pluralist approach, contrasting neoclassical, post-Keynesian and classical theory, but uses classical models for illustration. Topics include climate mitigation and adaptation, renewable resources, and energy return on […]

Alternatives to Growth-Centric Development

By Erin Lennox and Rebecca Hollender This module considers the problems of environmental degradation and inequality in relation to growth-centric development. Perspectives on alternatives to growth along with related policies, practices and challenges are discussed to explain the need to limit economic activity to within the biophysical limits of the planet. The module features extensive […]

Gender and Risk-Taking Economics, Evidence, and Why the Answer Matters

By Julie A. Nelson The belief that men and women have fundamentally distinct natures, resulting in divergent preferences and behaviours, is widespread. Recently, economists have also engaged in the search for gender differences, with a number claiming to find fundamental gender differences regarding risk-taking, altruism, and competition. In particular, the idea that “women are more risk-averse […]

Frugal Value: Designing Business for a Crowded Planet

by Carina Millstone, Visiting Research Fellow Routledge, July 2017 Order via Routledge This book, by Visiting Research Fellow Carina Millstone, contests the notion that companies can rise to the great challenges of our time by adopting so-called ‘sustainable business’ practices. Instead, the acute ecological crisis requires an all-round rethink of what business does, and how it […]

Twenty-First Century Macroeconomics: Responding to the Climate Challenge

By Jonathan M. Harris and Neva R. Goodwin, Editors Edward Elgar Publishing, 2009; Hardcover and Paperback, 332 Pages; Order from Edward Elgar Publishing  The authors and editors of this volume challenge traditional assumptions about economic growth, and develop the elements of a reoriented macroeconomics that takes account both of environmental impacts and of social equity. […]

Introducing Economics: A Critical Guide for Teaching

By Mark H. Maier and Julie A. Nelson Cloth, $68.95 Paper, $24.95 M.E. Sharpe, 2007 “Introducing Economics is a pedagogical gadfly prodding our economics thinking by its critical stance while serving as the teacher’s best friend through its clear writing, smart teaching ideas, and robust suggested resources. It should be on the shelf of all […]