Status, Growth and the Environment: Goods As Symbols in Applied Welfare Economics - Couverture rigide

Brekke, Kjell Arne; Howarth, Richard B.

 
9781840644333: Status, Growth and the Environment: Goods As Symbols in Applied Welfare Economics
Couverture rigide
ISBN 10 : 1840644338 ISBN 13 : 9781840644333
Editeur : Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 2002

Synopsis

Applied welfare economics proceeds from the assumption that preferences are fixed and independent of social context. Social psychologists and anthropologists, in contrast, interpret preferences as being strongly shaped by culture and the prevailing social norms. This viewpoint is supported by a wealth of evidence from ethnographies, social surveys, and experimental studies.

Integrating theory and evidence from a range of social sciences, the authors argue that the satisfaction derived from material goods depends upon their symbolic meaning, as people use goods to reinforce a positive social identity. They further contend that this calls for the incorporation of status preferences in economic models. The book finds that concerns over social status may lead decision makers to significantly overvalue consumption and undervalue the natural environment. In addition, income and consumption taxes that are normally regarded as 'distortionary' may be necessary to address the social costs of status signalling. Based on the available evidence, the authors argue that failing to account for status preferences can lead to flawed policy prescriptions in debates over optimal taxation, the economics of climate change and Environmental Kuznets Curves. To address this bias, the book offers a tractable, operational, and theoretically grounded approach to the economics of social status.

Students and scholars of ecological, environmental and resource economics will find Status, Growth and the Environment to be a highly original and fascinating read. It will also be of great relevance to anyone with an interest in applied welfare economics.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

À propos de l'auteur

Kjell Arne Brekke, Department of Economics, University of Oslo, Norway and Richard B. Howarth, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Dartmouth College, US

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Date d'édition
2002
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
1840644338
ISBN 13 
9781840644333
Reliure
Relié
Nombre de pages
208
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible