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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Natural resource economics: issues, analysis, and policy

Book ·
OSTI ID:6477391
A unified exposition of the principles of optimum use of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources is set in a framework of historical natural resource concerns and real world resource markets. The theoretical formulation of problems and the use of economic analysis to evaluate those problems are accompanied by historical and contemporary illustrations. Several extended case studies are included, and the policy implications of each are clearly drawn. The subject is introduced by a broad overview, an accurate picture of the world natural resource situation, and an historical framework. The latest theoretical work on the measurement of natural resource scarcity is presented, along with extensive empirical evidence on the seriousness of increasing scarcity. The intriguing problems of key resource sectors are treated in detail: energy resources, minerals, forestry, fisheries, water resources, and natural environments. Throughout, techniques and levels of analysis are carefully chosen to exhibit how the economist formulates natural resource problems so that the problem can be quantitatively analyzed, and also in order that data needs are made explicit. The interactions of natural resource recovery and utilization and the physical environment are emphasized, exhibiting the costs and constraints which environmental impacts impose on natural resource use. 97 references, 96 figures, 53 tables.
OSTI ID:
6477391
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English