Edward B. Barbier

'The Green Revolution' of the 60's and 70's produced immense gains in food cereal production in the Third World. But there are huge problems in the 'post-revolutionary' era: farmers with small or marginal holdings have benefited less than wealthier farmers; intensive mono-cropping has made production more susceptible to environmental stresses and shocks. Now there is evidence of diminishing returns from intensive and intensively chemical agricultural production. What is needed is a new approach, equally revolutionary, but different in its ideas and style. The authors set out what they mean by 'sustainable' agriculture in the new era and look at the effects of international economic restraints and of national policies on the kind of development they see as necessary. They chart a path for sustainable livelihoods for Third World farmers enmeshed by forces outside their control. They describe methods of evaluating and resolving the tough trade-offs all levels of intervention, from international trade down to the individual farm. This book cannot provide all the answers, but it does indicate what international conditions we need to be aware of, what national policies we need to advocate and what approaches at the local level we need to adopt to ensure the goal of agricultural sustainability. Originally published in 1990

Natural Resources and Economic Development, first published in 2005, explores a key paradox: why is natural resource exploitation not yielding greater benefits to the poor economies of Africa, Asia and Latin America? Part I examines this paradox both through a historical review of resource use and development and through examining current theories which explain the under-performance of today's resource-abundant economies, and proposes a frontier expansion hypothesis as an alternative explanation. Part II develops models to analyse the key economic factors underlying land expansion and water use in developing countries. Part III explores further the 'dualism within dualism' structure of resource dependency, rural poverty and resource degradation within developing countries, and through illustrative country case-studies, proposes policy and institutional reforms necessary for successful resource-based development.

Ten years ago, Blueprint for a Green Economy made front-page news. Its central message, that environmental problems have their roots in economic 'failures', served to change the direction of environmental policy. The goal of sustainable development was seen to be illusory unless an economic perspective was brought to bear on the issue. A decade on, two of the original authors, David Pearce and Ed Barbier, return to the original theme to see what has changed. They find that the picture has improved, with governments worldwide now talking the language of environmental economics and making steps towards an economics-based environmental policy. However, there is a long way to go and Blueprint for a Sustainable Economy maps out the agenda again, with special reference this time to developing country problems where the neglect of environmental quality is costing nations dear. The authors show that their original formulation of the meaning of sustainable development has flourished into whole theories of how to achieve sustainability and how to measure a sustainable path for modern economies. They also show that all the principles applicable to a nation, or to the world as a whole, are equally applicable to corporations. Here is a blueprint for the start of the century.

The Economics of Environment and Development is a carefully edited selection of Edward Barbier's most influential papers on the role of environmental economics in economic development.This book begins with a brief overview and summary of the papers, placing each in its original context and in relation to the development of Barbier's ideas. The first section deals with the concept of sustainable development, in particular its practical implications for economic policy in developing countries, as well as the long run conditions under which an economy might trade-off environment and growth to achieve its development aims. The second section is concerned mainly with land degradation and tropical deforestation. Using case studies from Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia, the underlying causes of these problems are examined and innovative policies are prescribed to reverse environmental degradation in these areas. The third part of the book is dedicated to the economics of wetlands, wildlands and biodiversity conservation, and discusses the optimal use and management of a region's remaining wild or natural habitat areas. The final section of the book deals with trade and the environment and focuses on the linkages between sustainable resource management and the trade in ivory, timber and forest products, and the role of trade interventions as a means of encouraging a developing country to conserve more of a biological resource.This authoritative volume will be of great interest to academics, policymakers and students of environmental, ecological and development economics.

This major book makes a significant contribution to the development of economic principles and practice for natural resource management in Third World countries.The 1980s witnessed the second environmental revolution: its theme is 'sustainable development'. This book offers a definition of sustainable development in terms of the non-depletion of natural environments. It investigates the economic implications of sustainability, with special reference to the practice of cost-benefit analysis and problems of accounting for the interests of future generations. The major part of the book is devoted to an analysis of environmental problems in the developing world. The essential ingredients of policy measures aimed at sustainable development are discussed.