Managing Our Environmental Portfolio

o set of issues has tended to separate economists and ecologists, especially in the mind of the public, more than those surrounding the linkages between economic growth, human carrying capacity, and the environment. The general lack of interest among the majority of economists in problems of the environment and a parallel lack of interest among the majority of ecologists in economic issues, combined with a lack of dialogue between the two groups, has allowed extreme positions to take hold in the public debate and to influence policy to an inordinate degree. Just one example from a book that consists of a debate between Julian Simon and Norman Myers (Myers and Simon 1994) should suffice to demonstrate just how extreme some of these positions are. Consider the following quote by Simon: We now have in our hands— in our libraries, really— the technology to feed, clothe, and supply energy to an ever-growing population for the next 7 billion years. Most amazing is that most of this specific body of knowledge developed within the past hundred years or so, though it rests on knowledge that had accumulated for millennia, of course. Indeed, the last necessary additions to this body of knowledge— nuclear fission and space travel— occurred decades ago. Even if no new knowledge were ever invented after those advances, we would be able to go on increasing forever, improving our standard of living and our control over our environment. The discovery of genetic manipulation certainly enhances our powers greatly, but even without it we could have continued our progress forever. (Myers and Simon 1994, p. 65)