Wealth, Poverty and Sustainable Development

David Barkin ()

Development and Comp Systems from EconWPA

Abstract: An analysis of the underlying causes of environment destruction debunks the idea that the poor are the principal cause of environmental degradation in present-day societies. The paper also identifies some of the major areas of economic theory and institutional biases in market economies that generate obstacles to the 'proper' functioning of markets. As a result, even the more advanced prescriptions of modern environmental economics are incapable of explaining the deepening of social and economic polarization and the worsening of the environmental conditions in which poor people must exist. The paper ends with a proposal for overcoming this growing crisis through local participation and action.

Keywords: political ecology; sustainability; polarization; heterodox economics; development alternatives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev
Date: Written 2005-06-09
Note: Type of Document - pdf; pages: 54
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http://129.3.20.41/eps/dev/papers/0506/0506003.pdf (application/pdf)

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