An overview is offered of different approaches to economic modelling of sustainable development. First, conceptual-theoretical perspectives on sustainable development are shortly reviewed from the angle of model implications. Next, different model types are discussed. These include neoclassical...

Until recently, the interaction between environmental quality, economic activity and growth is predominantly considered in an a-spatial context. Traditional neoclassical growth theory following Solow/Swan has mainly addressed questions about environmental and resource limits to growth. Recently,...

The application of aggregate indicators in environmental-economic research has received littleattention so far. An important reason is the incompleteness of environmental data. This articlepresents a systematic approach to construct indicators of environment and economy on a macrolevel. It...

Recent advances in evolutionary theory have important implications for environmental economics. A short overview is offered of evolutionarythinking in economics. Subsequently, major concepts and approaches inevolutionary biology and evolutionary economics are presented andcompared. Attention is...

This provides a short overview of the main themes of ecological economics (EE). It isargued that EE provides a platform that fosters multidisciplinary environmental research bybringing together the core contributing disciplines economics and ecology. In addition, EE isregarded as a pluralistic...

The relationship between trade and material flows is examined by viewing theglobal economy from the perspective of international material-product chains(MPC). The international MPC covers the complete lifecycle of a material or aproduct in two or more regions, including extraction, production,...

A model framework, SIMBIOSES, is presented which describes economic activities and relatedmaterial, substance and energy flows in a multi-region and multi-sector economic system. Theconceptual design of the framework is discussed in relation to current issues on dematerializationand...

This paper introduces and surveys ecological-economic analysis ofbiodiversity. It seeks to identify the complex linkages betweeneconomic and ecological systems with a view to a solid exploration ofvaluation issues in biodiversity. Against this background the studyoffers a review of key...

The debate on growth versus environment, including the more recent literature on sustainabledevelopment, is systematically evaluated in a stylized framework. Diffent perspectives on the conflictand relation between the economy, growth and the natural environment, have created a situationwhere...

The advantages and disadvantages of genetic modification of organisms in agriculture are reviewed. These relate to the environment, human health, socio-economic effects, population growth, and differential consequences for developed and developing countries. An overall evaluation requires that...