Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Part I The State of Knowledge and its use in Environmental Economics
- 1 Introducing Complex Environmental Economics
- 2 Complexity, Heterogeneity and Uncertainty as Basis for Policy Analysis
- 3 Modelling Innovation and the Macroeconomics of Low-Carbon Transitions: Equilibrium and Non-equilibrium Paradigms
- 4 Philosophies of Science and the Policy Cycle
- Part II A Positive Theory for Complexity Economics
- Part III Applied Complexity Economics for Environmental Governance
- References
- Index
1 - Introducing Complex Environmental Economics
from Part I - The State of Knowledge and its use in Environmental Economics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 November 2022
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Part I The State of Knowledge and its use in Environmental Economics
- 1 Introducing Complex Environmental Economics
- 2 Complexity, Heterogeneity and Uncertainty as Basis for Policy Analysis
- 3 Modelling Innovation and the Macroeconomics of Low-Carbon Transitions: Equilibrium and Non-equilibrium Paradigms
- 4 Philosophies of Science and the Policy Cycle
- Part II A Positive Theory for Complexity Economics
- Part III Applied Complexity Economics for Environmental Governance
- References
- Index
Summary
In this first chapter, the emergent complexity of problems in environmental and climate policy is raised and summarised. These issues are described as ‘wicked’: the process of solving them coincides with the scientific process of understanding their nature and the internal mechanisms driving them. While in many scientific areas of enquiry, statistics can be accumulated using repeated experiments, this is not possible here, and moreover, each time an attempt is made to solve an environmental problem with a chosen policy strategy, the problem typically transforms into something new. The case is made why optimisation approaches are fundamentally flawed in analysing environmental problems, as they assume the access and availability of knowledge and data by analysts that is not realistic. This introductory chapter motivates the various issues raised and discussed throughout this book.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Complexity Economics for Environmental Governance , pp. 3 - 24Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022