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Welfare, Growth and Environment: A Sceptical Review of the Skeptical Environmentalist by B. Lomborg

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  • Felix FitzRoy
  • Ian Smith

Abstract

Lomborg's best‐selling attempt to demolish environmental concerns has been praised by the Economist and the Financial Times, in stark contrast to the reactions of environmental scientists. We show in detail here how Lomborg selects statistics to support his optimistic views, and systematically neglects relevant but unfavourable evidence. He also ignores much of modern environmental economics, such as the use of genuine investment that captures environmental degradation, ‘double dividends’ from green taxation in the presence of unemployment, and local health benefits from abatement of emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Felix FitzRoy & Ian Smith, 2004. "Welfare, Growth and Environment: A Sceptical Review of the Skeptical Environmentalist by B. Lomborg," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 51(5), pages 707-717, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:scotjp:v:51:y:2004:i:5:p:707-717
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0036-9292.2004.00329.x
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