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What is sustainability economics?

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  • Baumgärtner, Stefan
  • Quaas, Martin

Abstract

While economists have been contributing to the discussion of various aspects of sustainability for decades, it is just recently that the term "sustainability economics" was used explicitly in the ecological, environmental, and resource economics community. Yet, the contributions that use the term "sustainability economics" do not refer to any explicit definition of the term, and are not obviously joined by common or unifying characteristics, such as subject focus, methodology, or institutional background. The question thus arises: what is "sustainability economics"? In this essay, we systematically define and delineate "sustainability economics" in terms of its normative foundation, aims, subject matter, ontology, and genuine research agenda.

Suggested Citation

  • Baumgärtner, Stefan & Quaas, Martin, 2010. "What is sustainability economics?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 445-450, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:69:y:2010:i:3:p:445-450
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    1. Becker, Gary S., 1978. "The Economic Approach to Human Behavior," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226041124, January.
    2. Baumgärtner, Stefan & Becker, Christian & Frank, Karin & Müller, Birgit & Quaas, Martin, 2008. "Relating the philosophy and practice of ecological economics: The role of concepts, models, and case studies in inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability research," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 384-393, October.
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    8. Illge, Lydia & Schwarze, Reimund, 2009. "A matter of opinion--How ecological and neoclassical environmental economists and think about sustainability and economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 594-604, January.
    9. Becker, Christian & Faber, Malte & Hertel, Kirsten & Manstetten, Reiner, 2005. "Malthus vs. Wordsworth: Perspectives on humankind, nature and economy. A contribution to the history and the foundations of ecological economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 299-310, May.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economics Efficiency Epistemology Fairness Future Justice Human-nature relationship Ontology Philosophy of science Sustainability Uncertainty;

    JEL classification:

    • Q0 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • B0 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - General

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