Transcript Conclusions

III-B
Conclusions
• Characteristics of SE Asian economies predispose
them to particular patterns of ENR degradation
• These have to do with initial conditions, past rates
of economic growth, structural change and
policies.
• These characteristics demand that we select the
appropriate set of tools for research and policy
work on environment and development
– Mix of ‘micro’ and ‘macro’ approaches is needed.
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III-B
Conclusions
• Ultimately, policy-making is (or should be)
concerned with welfare rather than any single
economic or environmental target.
• Choosing welfare measures, and defining the
variables contributing to them, is a continuing
challenge.
– Valuation of environmental assets and flows
– Aggregation from representative agents to
heterogeneous consumers
• Multiple welfare sub-targets (environment,
poverty…) may indicate conflicting policies.
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III-B
Conclusions
• Continuing research questions:
– Do trade-offs exist between economic growth, poverty
alleviation, or reductions in inequality and the
conservation of environmental quality, and if so under
what conditions?
– Does ‘globalization’ (trade policy, foreign investment,
accession to WTO/MEAs) promote or retard efforts to
achieve a ‘sustainable’ growth path?
– How do economy-wide economic mechanisms
influence the use of environmental assets? How do
these mechanisms evolve over time or in the course of
economic development?
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