Natural Resources: Allocation, Economics and Policy

Author: [British] et al.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: This book approaches the issue of global renewable and non-renewable resources from a multidisciplinary perspective, employing multidisciplinary methods. It is a comprehensive and authoritative work that emphasizes two key questions: Who holds the real decision-making power over the allocation of natural resources? And who benefits from the development, utilization, and protection of natural resources? The authors examine the spatial distribution of resource availability, resource development and consumption, as well as the distribution of wealth and welfare created by natural resources. They highlight the complexity of the issue, analyzing the intricate interactions between economic power, administrative structures, and political systems. They argue that the performance of the current resource management system can be evaluated based on its contribution to several key goals for human welfare (i.e., economic efficiency, economic growth, distributional fairness, sustainable resource security, and maintaining environmental quality standards). Public policy measures are often used to alter resource allocation. This book views policy as a dynamic process of trade-offs, more rooted in managerial decisions (and non-decisions) and their implementation rather than external legislative intentions. The book also discusses the important and timely topic of sustainable development and its operationalization. It uses numerous real-world cases and data to illustrate theories and perspectives, and the accompanying references include a wealth of significant works on natural resources. This well-structured book is based on the authors' own research and teaching experience, making it an important reading material for researchers, educators, managers, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates in the fields of geography, environmental science, resource science, as well as economics, policy studies, and regional development.