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Economies are open systems embedded in an ecosystem with which they exchange matter and energy. Interactions among these systems are vital for each system's performance and are constrained by the laws of physics. This volume pays tribute to economy--environment interactions simultaneously from an economic, ecological and physical perspective.
Integrating Economics, Ecology and Thermodynamics provides a first step in identifying and combining the principles of economics, ecology and thermodynamics on a fundamental level. Part I lays out the general context for the approach chosen. Part II familiarizes readers with core concepts of, and methods used in, the three disciplines of economics, ecology and thermodynamics. Part III assesses ways in which these disciplines can be integrated to provide an improved understanding of economy--environment interactions. Part IV illustrates the integration of the three disciplines with a dynamic model of a human community interacting with its environment. In Part V the volume closes with a brief summary and a set of conclusions on the relevance of integrated, interdisciplinary approaches to economy--environment interactions.
List of contents
I. Introduction.- 1. Economics, Ecology and Thermodynamics.- II. Core Concepts in Economics, Ecology and Thermodynamics.- 2. Core Concepts in Neoclassical Economics.- 3. Core Concepts in Ecology.- 4. Core Concepts in Thermodynamics.- III. Integrating the Core Concepts of Economics, Ecology and Thermodynamics.- 5. Integrating Core Concepts of Thermodynamics into Economics.- 6. Ecology and Thermodynamics.- 7. Economics and Ecology.- 8. Economics, Ecology and Thermodynamics.- IV. Nonlinear Dynamic Simulation of Natural Resource Use: Thermodynamic Limits and Endogenous Technical Change.- 9. Thermodynamic Implications for Nonrenewable Resource Extraction with Endogenous Technical Change.- 10. A Comprehensive Model of Economy-Environment Interactions.- V. Summary and Conclusions.- 11. Methodology and Findings.- Appendix A: Glossary.- Appendix B: Nonlinear Dynamic Simulation Program for the Nonrenewable Resource Model.- Appendix C: Initial Conditions and Parameter Values for the Simulation of the comprehensive Model of Chapter 10.- References.
