Nature and Wealth ─ Overcoming Environmental Scarcity and Inequality

The world economy today is facing two major threats: increasing environmental degradation and a growing gap between rich and poor. Drawing on historical and contemporary evidence, this book argues that these two threats are symptomatic of a growing structural imbalance in all economies, which is how nature is exploited to create wealth. The root of this imbalance is that natural capital is under-priced, and hence overly exploited, whereas human capital is insufficient to meet demand, thus encouraging wealth inequality. Only by adopting policies to correct these economy-wide failures can we overcome the structural imbalance between nature and wealth that is inhibiting innovation, growth and prosperity.

Edward B. Barbier is the John S Bugas Professor of Economics, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Wyoming, US. He is considered a leading economic thinker on the role of natural resources in economic development, and policies for promoting green and sustainable growth. He has published widely on these topics, with over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, 21 previous books, and many contributions to popular journals and social media.