David W. Pearce

Ivory is big business, and in some parts of Africa elephants have been hunted almost to extinction in the quest for it. The losses to African economies have been catastrophic. Now there is an international ban on the trade and conservation is. the principal goal. This should be a matter for rejoicing, but nothing is quite so simple. The authors of this book have looked at the overall statistics, including those for countries where the elephant population is stable. They have considered the multiplicity of economic and social functions fulfilled by ensuring that elephant herds survive, tourism, a variety of ecological purpose. and, finally, as a source of ivory. They show how the careful management of elephants as a resource can best serve African interests. This book is at the cutting edge of economic thinking and provides a model for the consideration of the difficult relationship between people and wildlife. Originally published in 19990

Ivory is big business, and in some parts of Africa elephants have been hunted almost to extinction in the quest for it. The losses to African economies have been catastrophic. Now there is an international ban on the trade and conservation is. the principal goal. This should be a matter for rejoicing, but nothing is quite so simple. The authors of this book have looked at the overall statistics, including those for countries where the elephant population is stable. They have considered the multiplicity of economic and social functions fulfilled by ensuring that elephant herds survive, tourism, a variety of ecological purpose. and, finally, as a source of ivory. They show how the careful management of elephants as a resource can best serve African interests. This book is at the cutting edge of economic thinking and provides a model for the consideration of the difficult relationship between people and wildlife. Originally published in 19990

"Environmental Economics" provides a comprehensive introduction to the dynamic relationship between economics and environmental policy. The authors offer a broad overview of important issues, including the changing role of economics during a time of increasing environmental concern, the impact of markets and governmental policy, environmental protection through economic mechanisms, and a practical look at how environmental economics are played out in commercial and scientific arenas.

Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment brings together the approaches of natural resource economics and environmental economics to provide a comprhensive overview of the economics of national international and global environmental problems. A unifying theme throuhhout the book is the concept of "sustainable development" defined as "maximizing the net benefits of economic development while maintaining the services and quality of natural resources over time." The authors emphasize the continuing importance of a mainstream approach. They stress "economic efficiency—getting the most welfare out of a given endowment of resources." And they address the larger moral issues as well. Chapter topics include the historical development of environmental economics, environmental ethics, and pollution control policy in "free" mixed market and centrally planned economies. Other current issues seen from an economic perspective include destruction of the ozone layer, the greenhouse effect, policy weapons in the fight against pollution, and the special problems of the third world. Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment offers a thorough review and synthesis of the major work of the field's senior scholars. It will be of value not only to students of natural resource economics, environmental economics, geography, and environmental sciences but also to all with an interest in economic appraoches to environmental issues.