Evolution, Time, Production and the Environment - Softcover

Faber, Malte; Proops, John L.R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3540580441 ISBN 13: 9783540580447

Publisher: Springer, 1994

Synopsis

This second edition is brought about by two factors. First, the initial printing sold out much more rapidly than we expected. Second, several colleagues have been kind enough to suggest that this book not only has a contribution to make to ecological economics, but also has relevance to economics general. Thus our OUf distinction distinction between between genotypic genotypic and phenotypic evolution may be used to characterise not only economic sectors, but also whole economies, and in particular economic schools of thought. For instance, the Austrian subjectivist school deals explicitly with ignorance and the emergence of novelty, and may therefore be used to analyse genotypic development. In contrast, neoclassical economics deals principally with phenotypic development. When Dr. Müller Muller of Springer-Verlag suggested the production of a second edition, we were therefore pleased that this book might remain available. Several readers and in particular reviewers of the first edition remarked, in one way or the other, that they had questions concerning several of our OUf concepts, concepts, such as genotype, phenotype, ignorance, surprise, sUlprise, novelty, novelty, knowledge, knowledge, predictable predictable and unpredictable processes etc. Of course, all these concepts are of importance for evolution in general and for invention and innovation of new techniques in particular. We therefore considered some modifications and extensions of the original text, but on the advice of colleagues, have restricted oUfselves ourselves to correcting mistakes that crept into the first edition and to two extensions ofthe of the text, text, one major, one smaller.

About this title

Product Description

This text is concerned with the long-run interactions between the economy and the natural environment. Part 2 explores and develops the concept of evolution, in particular distinguishing between evolution which does not involve the emergence of novelty, and evolution where novelty does occur. In Part 3, three types of time irreversibility are developed, and these concepts are used to show how time has been treated in the natural sciences. Part 4 addresses the problem of "ignorance" in philosophy and science, particularly with respect to the conceptualization, study and solution of environmental problems. Part 5 is concerned with the economic modelling of the above concepts. It extends and adapts neo-Austrian capital theory to provide a basis for the modelling of long-run economy-environment interactions. A heuristic simulation model is described, and its simulation results are discussed. Part 6 draws some lessons from the earlier discussion and analysis. It also stresses the role and the importance of interdisciplinary work for the understanding of relationships between economic activity and the natural environment.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3540580441
• ISBN 13: 9783540580447
• Binding: Perfect Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 307