• ISBN13: 9788126937073
• Binding: Paperback
• Subject: Economics
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint: Atlantic
• Publication Date: July 17, 2025
• Pages: 415
• Original Price: INR 795.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 460 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): Environmental Economics, Environmental Conservation & Protection, and Environmental Science

Environmental Economics: Theory and Applications offers a thorough and insightful exploration of the field, with a special focus on theories of collective action, environmental policy and sustainable management practices. Blending theoretical foundations with practical insights, the book introduces key concepts, tools and techniques in a clear and accessible manner. It equips readers with the analytical skills needed to understand the root causes of environmental challenges and to devise effective policy responses and management strategies.

Key features include:

• An innovative synthesis of fundamental concepts, theories and frameworks.
• Clear and engaging language that simplifies complex ideas.
• Real-world examples and case studies to enhance understanding.
• Up-to-date research data on pressing environmental issues such as global warming, acid rain and ozone depletion.
• A strong focus on policy development and environmental governance.
• This valuable resource is ideal for graduate and postgraduate students, additionally serving the needs of educators, researchers, environmental professionals and policy-makers across India.

Katar Singh is the former Director of the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), Gujarat. With over 50 years of expertise in teaching, research, and consulting in agricultural and rural development, he has authored/co-authored nine books and published over 120 articles. He holds a PhD in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois and has conducted postdoctoral research at Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA and Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. A former professor at IRMA and G.B. Pant University, he has led numerous research projects and received several prestigious awards, including the Rathindra Puraskar (2003) and the Sir Chhotu Ram National Award (1996–97) for his significant contributions to rural development and agricultural research.

Anil Shishodia, currently works in the Information/Reference Services Department at the Calgary Public Library in Calgary, Canada. Previously, he served as a Senior Lecturer in the Postgraduate Department of Economics at Sardar Patel University (SPU), Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat. He was a World Bank Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in environmental economics at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA, from August 1999 to May 2000, where he completed advanced courses in natural resources and environmental economics, including environmental ethics. At SPU, he played a key role in designing and teaching a postgraduate course in environmental economics. With over 11 years of experience in teaching and research, he has published several articles on the subject.

• List of Tables ..............................................................................ix
• List of Figures ............................................................................ xi
• List of Boxes .............................................................................xiii
• Preface .......................................................................................xv
• Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................... 1
• 1.1 Meaning and Importance of Environment................................1
• 1.2 Definition and Scope of Environmental Economics...................2
• 1.3 Environmental Economics vs.Traditional Economics...............4
• 1.4 The Rationale of Environmental Economics.............................6
• 1.5 The Evolution and Growth of Environmental Economics.........8
• 1.6 Some Typical Environmental Problems...................................15
• 1.7 A Generic Approach to Solving Environmental Problems.......18
• 1.8 Main Points............................................................................18
• 1.9 Discussion Questions..............................................................20
• Chapter 2: Environment, Economy and Development........................23
• 2.1 Introduction............................................................................23
• 2.2 Environment and Economy.....................................................24
• 2.3 Tracing Environmental Inputs into the Economy ...................26
• 2.4 Environment and Economic Growth.......................................29
• 2.5 Environment and Development...............................................33
• 2.6 Main Points............................................................................44
• 2.7 Discussion Questions..............................................................46
• Chapter 3: Basic Concepts and Theories: Individual Choices..............47
• 3.1 Introduction............................................................................47
• 3.2 Main Characteristics of Environmental Goods.......................48
• 3.3 Consumption and Demand.....................................................53
• 3.4 Production and Supply............................................................57
• 3.5 Marginal Analysis...................................................................62
• 3.6 Markets and Market Failure...................................................66
• 3.7 Government Intervention and Public Policy Failure................67
• 3.8 Main Points............................................................................68
• 3.9 Discussion Questions..............................................................70
• Chapter 4: Basic Concepts and Theories: Collective Choices..............71
• 4.1 Introduction............................................................................71
• 4.2 Social Benefits, Costs and Welfare Function............................71
• 4.3 Pareto Principle or Paretian Criterion.....................................74
• 4.4 Compensation Principle or Criterion......................................75
• 4.5 Hardin’s Thesis of ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’.................76
• 4.6 Prisoners’ Dilemma (PD) Game..............................................78
• 4.7 Olson’s Theory of Collective Action.......................................80
• 4.8 Methods of Abatement of Externalities...................................83
• 4.9 Optimal Stationary Policies for Renewable Resources............89
• 4.10 Social Cost Benefit Analysis (SCBA)........................................92
• 4.11 Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA)..........................................98
• 4.12 Main Points..........................................................................100
• 4.13 Discussion Questions ...........................................................101
• Chapter 5: Environmental Valuation.................................................103
• 5.1 Introduction..........................................................................103
• 5.2 Meaning and Types of Environmental Values.......................104
• 5.3 Measures of Economic Values...............................................105
• 5.4 Valuation of Intangible Benefits of the Environment.............119
• 5.5 Main Points..........................................................................120
• 5.6 Discussion Questions............................................................121
• Chapter 6: Environmental Accounting..............................................123
• 6.1 Introduction..........................................................................123
• 6.2 Historical Development of National Accounts in India.........124
• 6.3 Genesis of Environmental Accounting..................................125
• 6.4 Some Salient Features of SEEA.............................................127
• 6.5 Forest Resource Accounting: A Case Study...........................131
• 6.6 Integration of Environmental Accounts into The System of National Accounts.........................................138
• 6.7 Main Points..........................................................................140
• 6.9 Discussion Questions............................................................142
• A Conceptual Framework.....................................................144
• 7.3 An Action System for Environment Management.................148
• 7.4 Forms of Government Intervention.......................................149
• 7.5 Main Points..........................................................................170
• 7.6 Discussion Questions............................................................172
• Chapter 8: Land and Environment....................................................173
• 8.1 Introduction..........................................................................173
• 8.2 The Nature and Extent of Land Degradation........................173
• 8.3 The Economic Logic of Land Degradation............................176
• 8.4 Alternatives for Restoration of Degraded Lands and Improving the Environment...........................................177
• 8.5 Main Points..........................................................................192
• 8.6 Discussion Questions............................................................193
• Chapter 9: Water and Environment...................................................195
• 9.1 Introduction..........................................................................195
• 9.2 Current Status of Water Resources........................................196
• 9.3 Some Water-Related Problems..............................................201
• 9.4 Alternatives for Addressing Water-Related Problems and Improving the Environment............................211
• 9.5 Main Points..........................................................................226
• 9.6 Discussion Questions............................................................228
• Chapter 10: Forests and Environment...............................................229
• 10.1 Introduction..........................................................................229
• 10.2 The Role of Forests in India’s Economy................................230
• 10.3 Deforestation and Degradation of Forests and their Environmental Consequences................................235
• 10.4 Socially Optimal Level of Exploitation of Forests.................239
• 10.5 Alternatives for Mitigating the Problems of Degradation and Depletion of Forest Resources...................241
• 10.6 Main Points..........................................................................249
• 10.7 Discussion Questions............................................................250
• Chapter 11: Fisheries and Environment.............................................251
• 11.1 Introduction..........................................................................251
• 11.2 The Types and Extent of Fishery Resources..........................252
• 11.3 The Problems of Fisheries and their Underlying Causes........255
• 11.4 Determining Optimum Level of Harvesting of Marine Fish..........................................................................257
• 11.5 Instruments of Managing Fisheries.......................................259
• 11.6 Policies and Programmes for Fishery Development...............266
• 11.7 Main Points..........................................................................271
• 11.8 Discussion Questions............................................................272
• Chapter 12: Biodiversity Conservation and Environment..................273
• 12.1 Introduction..........................................................................273
• 12.2 The Functions of Ecosystems and Biodiversity......................275
• 12.3 Identification and Valuation of Benefits from Biodiversity Conservation.....................................................277
• 12.4 Causes of Loss of Biodiversity and its Consequences............279
• 12.5 Determining Locally and Globally Optimum Levels of Biodiversity Conservation......................................284
• 12.6 Instruments of Biodiversity Conservation.............................286
• 12.7 Biodiversity Conservation Policy and Programmes of India.................................................................................293
• 12.8 Main Points..........................................................................295
• 12.9 Discussion Questions............................................................297
• Chapter 13: Climate Change and Environment.................................299
• 13.1 Introduction..........................................................................299
• 13.2 Acid Rain..............................................................................300
• 13.3 Global Warming...................................................................303
• 13.4 Ozone Depletion...................................................................307
• 13.5 Climatic Aberrations.............................................................310
• 13.6 Main Points..........................................................................314
• 13.7 Discussion Questions............................................................316
• Chapter 14: An Ideal Environment Management Policy....................319
• 14.1 Introduction..........................................................................319
• 14.2 Need for an Environment Policy...........................................320
• 14.3 The Vision, Goals and Objectives of Environment Policy......327
• 14.4 Management Systems for Environment Policy......................331
• 14.5 Instruments of Environment Policy.......................................335
• 14.6 Enlisting Stakeholders’ Participation.....................................340
• 14.7 Institutional Mechanism for Integration...............................342
• 14.8 A Critique of India’s Environment Policy..............................344
• 14.9 Main Points..........................................................................348
• 14.10 Discussion Questions............................................................350
• Glossary...............................................................................351
• References And Select Bibliography......................................367
• Internet Resources................................................................386
• Index....................................................................................387
• About the Authors................................................................397