QUANTITATIVE ECO-NOMICS: HOW SUSTAINABLE ARE OUR ECONOMIES?

"Quantitative Eco-nomics" presents a bold and analytical exploration into the heart of environmental and ecological economics. Written by renowned economist Peter Bartelmus, this volume offers a much-needed reality check on the buzzwords of “sustainable development” by introducing rigorous quantitative tools to assess the intersection of economic performance and environmental sustainability.

Through detailed environmental accounts, empirical analysis, and modeling techniques, the book equips researchers, policymakers, and economists with operational frameworks to evaluate the sustainability of economic growth. It navigates the reader through a spectrum of concepts—from material and energy flow accounting to the System for Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA)—bringing clarity to the integration of ecological data into national accounts.

At the same time, the book poses critical, sometimes uncomfortable, questions: Has the sustainable development paradigm lost its practical relevance? Does it still guide policy, or has it become a smokescreen for inaction? Should society embrace zero growth, reduced consumption, or continue as usual? These questions lead to a deeper critique of prevailing economic thinking and challenge the reader to envision a more pragmatic and accountable policy framework.

With chapters covering physical and monetary linkages, sustainability modeling, global governance, and strategic outlooks, the book is not only a guide to eco-nomic analysis but also a provocative commentary on the future of growth and sustainability in an increasingly resource-constrained world.

An essential resource for academics, sustainability analysts, policymakers, and graduate students, Quantitative Eco-nomics is both intellectually rigorous and politically relevant—offering answers, insights, and tools for a planet at the crossroads of ecological and economic balance.