Economics and the Challenge of Global Warming

ISBN-13: 9781107649071 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 244 str.

Charles S Pearson

Opis

Economics and the Challenge of Global Warming is a balanced, rigorous, and comprehensive analysis of the role of economics in confronting global warming, the central environmental issue of the twenty-first century. It avoids a technical exposition in order to reach a wide audience and is up to date in its theoretical and empirical underpinnings. It is addressed to all who have some knowledge of economic concepts and a serious interest in how economics can (and cannot) help in crafting climate policy. The book is organized around three central questions. First, can benefit-cost analysis guide us in setting warming targets? Second, what strategies and policies are cost-effective? Third, and most difficult, can a global agreement be forged between rich and poor, North and South? While economic concepts are foremost in the analysis, they are placed within an accessible ethical and political matrix. The book serves as a primer for the post-Kyoto era.

Recenzje

'The economics of climate change is as complex as it is vital. To understand it, you can read dozens of journal articles and try to make sense of it on your own - or you can read Charles Pearson's brilliant synthesis and interpretation. I strongly recommend that you start with this wonderful new book.' Scott Barrett, Columbia University

Spis treści

Introduction and a roadmap; 1. Climate change: background information; 2. The role of cost benefit in climate policy; 3. Discounting and social weighting (aggregating over time and space); 4. Empirical results: a tasting menu; 5. Strategic responses; 6. Targets and tools; 7. Trade and global warming; 8. The challenge of international cooperation; 9. Beyond Kyoto; 10. A summing up.

O autorze

Pearson, Charles S. Charles S. Pearson is Senior Adjunct Professor of International Economics and Environment at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and Professor Emeritus at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), The Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC. During his tenure at SAIS he directed the International Economics Program for 17 years and taught at all three campuses in Washington, Bologna and Nanjing. His teaching and research reflect a deep interest in international environmental economics. He pioneered seminars on trade and environment, the role of multinational corporations and environmental cost-benefit analysis. His books reflect these interests, with research on global warming published as early as 1978. They include Environment: North and South; International Marine Environment Policy; and Economics and the Global Environment (Cambridge University Press, 2000). He has been Adjunct Senior Associate at the World Resources Institute and the East West Center and consultant to the US government, international organizations and industrial, financial and legal organizations in the private sector. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Cornell University.