The aim of this paper is to describe a general overview of the large number of theoretical and empirical studies that analyze the relationships between trade openness and environment. In Section 1, the paper presents a first description of the multidimensional links between a general definition...

In recent years, sustainable development has represented one of the most important policy goals at the global level. How to design specific policy actions and how to measure performance and results continue to present a challenge. The aim of this paper is to identify a numerical measure of...

Many empirical studies have tried to analyse the causal relations between economic growth and environmental degradation by using the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). Despite the huge diffusion of EKC studies, this model has been criticised for incompleteness in a sustainable development...

Background is provided on the nature of environmental and resource economics and its origins. The main current view of environmental/resource economists about the concept of sustainable development is outlined and the implications of this view for decision-making about optimal resource-use,...

Several different concepts of sustainable development exist in the literature (Tisdell, 1993, Ch. 9). However, it seems that no matter which of these concepts is adopted conservation of biological diversity is necessary for its achievement, even though there is room for argument •about the...

Human resources are central to economic development and can be increased in value and productivity by investment in human beings e.g. in their education and health. But for a considerable period in the past economists stressed the importance of the accumulation of man-made physical capital for...