- Email: [email protected]
Resources reading
Book review.slResources reading
ists’ economic efficiency model. The merit of a disuggvegated pollution control strategy has been rightly acknowledged though a single control policy is unlikely to provide a blanket solution to all environmental quality problems. In Chapter Nine, Rees provides a fascinating account of the major reasons for the seemingly inconsistent preference exhibited within a society for different standards of control. She argues that such inconsistent preferences exist mainly because standards can be bargained and manipulated, enforcement can be flexible and regulatory agencies all too often come to operate in the interests of the regulated. Readers will find the section on ‘non-decision and corporatist influ-
ences’ interesting. In the final chapter, Rees points out that the real resource problems have frequently been dominated by political, economic and national security interests. When important economic interests are directly affected by scarcity, depletion or conflict, then the economic and political system has exhibited adaptive mechanisms which submerged opposition in order to ensure the continued existence of the process of growth and capital accumulation. However, such adaptation is critically dependent upon cooperation rather than confrontation between the developed and developing countries in the face of age old inertia to initiate a new order. I am not quite clear how Rees
thinks ‘sustainable development’ can be attained in the face of ‘resource depletion over time’. I also wish that the concept of ‘sustainable development’ could be defined more precisely to tell policy makers what exactly we wish to attain. But despite these criticisms, I believe that Rees has explained the problems of resource management clearly. Students in multidisciplinary subjects, administrators and general readers will find this book an interesting addition to the literature.
Subrata Ghatak Department of Economics University of Leicester
Resources reading Distributional Conf[icts in EnvironmenlalAllan edited by Policy Resource Schnaiberg, Nicholas Watts and Klaus Zimmerman (Gower, Aldershot, Hants, UK, 1986, xii+455 pp, f2.5.00) The Economics of Bromine. new 4 ed. (Roskill Information Services, 2 Clapham Road, London, SW9 OJA, 1986, f320.00, US$560.00 DMl120.00) The Economics of Natural Environmenr.? by John V. Krutilla and Anthony C. Fisher (Resources for the Future, Washington, DC, USA, revised cd 1985, xxi+300 pp). Studies in the valuation of commodity and amenity rcsourccs. The Economiccs of Pofash (Roskill Information Services, “2 Clapham Road, London, SW9 OJA, 87 pp, f295.00, US$S20.00, DMl 040.00)
A.M. Evans (IMM/The Society. London, UK, f65.00, us$lso.Oo)
Mineralogical 1986, 344 pp,
Pacific Mineral Resources: Physical, Economic and Legal Zssues edited by Charles J. Johnson, Allen L. Clark (East-West Center. Honolulu, Hawaii, 1986. 639 pp, US$40.00) Proceedings of the Pacific Marine Mineral Resources Training Course held in June 1985 at the Center. Petroleum and Mining Taxation by Christopher Goss (Cower, Aldershot, Hants, UK. 1986, 69 pp, f18.50) Energy Paper No 19, a handbook on a method of equitable sharing of profits and risk. The Outlook for Pulp and Paper 10 199.5 and Executive Summary (to the same title)
(Food and Agriculture Organization UN, Rome, 1986. vi + 77 pp)
The Public Management of Foresiry Projects (OECD, Paris. France, 1986, 100 pp) Tropical Foresis: A Call for Action (World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, USA, 19%) Report of an International Task Force convened by the World Resources Institute. The World Bank. and the United Nations Development Programmc. Water Pollution by Fertilizers and Pesritides (OECD. Paris, France, 1986, 144 pp) Uranium: Resources. Production and Demand - an Overview, prepared by the OECD and the IAEA, (OECD, Paris, France, 1986, 23 pp)
The Economics ofStrontium, 4 cd, (Roskill Information Services. 2 Clapham Road, London, SW9 OJA, 1986, 90 pp f295.00, us$520.00) The Economics of Tungsten, 5 ed, (Roskill Information Services, 2 Clapham Rd, London, SW9 OJA. 1986, 264 pp, f460.00, US$810.00, DMl 620)
Contributions
The Encroaching Desert: The Consequences of Human Failure (Zed Books, London, UK 1986, 132 pp, f3.95 paperback, f9.95 hardback) A report of The Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues. Mineral Deposits of Europe, Europe, edited by F.W.
RESOURCES
POLICY
RESOURCES POLICY welcomes information on current research programmes, items of comment and short informative articles on important issues, for publication in the ‘Communications’ section. Rejoinders to articles are also encouraged. Contributions should be sent to the editor.
Vol 3, Central Dunning and
December
1986
of the
ists’ economic efficiency model. The merit of a disuggvegated pollution control strategy has been rightly acknowledged though a single control policy is unlikely to provide a blanket solution to all environmental quality problems. In Chapter Nine, Rees provides a fascinating account of the major reasons for the seemingly inconsistent preference exhibited within a society for different standards of control. She argues that such inconsistent preferences exist mainly because standards can be bargained and manipulated, enforcement can be flexible and regulatory agencies all too often come to operate in the interests of the regulated. Readers will find the section on ‘non-decision and corporatist influ-
ences’ interesting. In the final chapter, Rees points out that the real resource problems have frequently been dominated by political, economic and national security interests. When important economic interests are directly affected by scarcity, depletion or conflict, then the economic and political system has exhibited adaptive mechanisms which submerged opposition in order to ensure the continued existence of the process of growth and capital accumulation. However, such adaptation is critically dependent upon cooperation rather than confrontation between the developed and developing countries in the face of age old inertia to initiate a new order. I am not quite clear how Rees
thinks ‘sustainable development’ can be attained in the face of ‘resource depletion over time’. I also wish that the concept of ‘sustainable development’ could be defined more precisely to tell policy makers what exactly we wish to attain. But despite these criticisms, I believe that Rees has explained the problems of resource management clearly. Students in multidisciplinary subjects, administrators and general readers will find this book an interesting addition to the literature.
Subrata Ghatak Department of Economics University of Leicester
Resources reading Distributional Conf[icts in EnvironmenlalAllan edited by Policy Resource Schnaiberg, Nicholas Watts and Klaus Zimmerman (Gower, Aldershot, Hants, UK, 1986, xii+455 pp, f2.5.00) The Economics of Bromine. new 4 ed. (Roskill Information Services, 2 Clapham Road, London, SW9 OJA, 1986, f320.00, US$560.00 DMl120.00) The Economics of Natural Environmenr.? by John V. Krutilla and Anthony C. Fisher (Resources for the Future, Washington, DC, USA, revised cd 1985, xxi+300 pp). Studies in the valuation of commodity and amenity rcsourccs. The Economiccs of Pofash (Roskill Information Services, “2 Clapham Road, London, SW9 OJA, 87 pp, f295.00, US$S20.00, DMl 040.00)
A.M. Evans (IMM/The Society. London, UK, f65.00, us$lso.Oo)
Mineralogical 1986, 344 pp,
Pacific Mineral Resources: Physical, Economic and Legal Zssues edited by Charles J. Johnson, Allen L. Clark (East-West Center. Honolulu, Hawaii, 1986. 639 pp, US$40.00) Proceedings of the Pacific Marine Mineral Resources Training Course held in June 1985 at the Center. Petroleum and Mining Taxation by Christopher Goss (Cower, Aldershot, Hants, UK. 1986, 69 pp, f18.50) Energy Paper No 19, a handbook on a method of equitable sharing of profits and risk. The Outlook for Pulp and Paper 10 199.5 and Executive Summary (to the same title)
(Food and Agriculture Organization UN, Rome, 1986. vi + 77 pp)
The Public Management of Foresiry Projects (OECD, Paris. France, 1986, 100 pp) Tropical Foresis: A Call for Action (World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, USA, 19%) Report of an International Task Force convened by the World Resources Institute. The World Bank. and the United Nations Development Programmc. Water Pollution by Fertilizers and Pesritides (OECD. Paris, France, 1986, 144 pp) Uranium: Resources. Production and Demand - an Overview, prepared by the OECD and the IAEA, (OECD, Paris, France, 1986, 23 pp)
The Economics ofStrontium, 4 cd, (Roskill Information Services. 2 Clapham Road, London, SW9 OJA, 1986, 90 pp f295.00, us$520.00) The Economics of Tungsten, 5 ed, (Roskill Information Services, 2 Clapham Rd, London, SW9 OJA. 1986, 264 pp, f460.00, US$810.00, DMl 620)
Contributions
The Encroaching Desert: The Consequences of Human Failure (Zed Books, London, UK 1986, 132 pp, f3.95 paperback, f9.95 hardback) A report of The Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues. Mineral Deposits of Europe, Europe, edited by F.W.
RESOURCES
POLICY
RESOURCES POLICY welcomes information on current research programmes, items of comment and short informative articles on important issues, for publication in the ‘Communications’ section. Rejoinders to articles are also encouraged. Contributions should be sent to the editor.
Vol 3, Central Dunning and
December
1986
of the