Economic Growth and Landscape Change: Unraveling the Development Path of Local Systems

Luca Salvati (), Ioannis Konaxis () and Marco Maialetti
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Luca Salvati: Sapienza University of Rome, Methods and Models for Economics, Territory and Finance, Faculty of Economics
Ioannis Konaxis: University of Piraeus, Department of Tourism Studies
Marco Maialetti: Sapienza University of Rome

Chapter Chapter 5 in Landscape Economics, 2026, pp 101-118 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Global warming, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, air and water pollution, deforestation, and stratospheric ozone depletion demonstrates that humanity has effectively become a geological force, capable of irreversibly altering the equilibrium of ecosystems. Sustainable development underscores the necessity of viewing sustainability as a systemic process rather than a static equilibrium, demanding continuous adaptation and innovation. The analysis addresses the inherently complex and non-linear interactions between socioecological systems, landscapes, and economic structures, highlighting the decisive role of externalities and the monetary valuation of ecosystem services. Such relationships demonstrate that environmental degradation and resource depletion are not only ecological issues but also structural failures of market and policy systems unable to internalize the true costs of environmental impacts. The perspective adopted in this work emphasizes the urgent need for policies and strategies grounded in intergenerational responsibility and the transition toward innovative economic paradigms, including innovation economy. These approaches represent essential pathways for achieving a sustainable future with technological progress, cultural evolution, and economic development.

Keywords: Anthropocene; Ecosystem services; Socioecological complexity; Environmental externalities; Circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-25263-0_5

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