30
globe. In fact, mankind’s dramatic role and economically driven activity influence
its own environment and the state of nature in the both negative and positive ways.
The study of economics begins with the clarification of basic relations between
the supply and demand on both a micro and a macro level. Education on micro- and
macroeconomic principles is usually based on mainstream economic thinking. It is
naturally founded on the growth (national and transnational level) and on the profit
(individual and corporate level). Thus, the tools, mechanisms and concepts used are
adjusted to achieve these goals. Solutions to the disparities between a desirable state
of the environment and its real state as a result of human economic activity are
therefore based on a change of approach as to how or whether to achieve economic growth.
3.2 Conceptual Approaches
Economy, as a science, deals with the utilisation of limited resources for the production of useful assets and services and their subsequent distribution to different
groups in society. Economics study how and why people (as consumers, corporates,
NGOs, public sectors or government agencies) make decisions about the use of
valuable resources. The area of knowledge specialised in the study of environmental
problems with the perspective and analytical ideas of economics is called environmental economics. The study of nature in its role as a provider of raw materials is
called natural resource economics (Field 1994). The field of economics, which is
contrary to the mainstream economics (and environmental economics as a part of
the mainstream economy), is ecological economics focused primarily on economicenvironmental relations. Ecological economics studies the relations of the human
being with its organic and inorganic environment (Common and Stagl 2005).
Ecological economists consider their field more interdisciplinary and argue that
environmental economics adopted neoclassical economic paradigm to the extent to
which it caused researchers to be blinded to other disciplinary views (Beder 2011).
Daly and Farley (2004) defined the objective of ecological economics as the searching of ways towards ‘steady-state economics’ and simultaneously towards a fair
distribution of resources not only for recent but also for future generations. Steadystate economics is the economy that does not grow or fall and remains at a level that
allows the restoration of natural ecosystems and the long-term dignity of mankind.
It could refer to a national economy, but also to a local, regional or global economy.
Beder (2011) introduces ecological economics as a more interdisciplinary
approach, incorporating the research of economists, ecologists, philosophers and
social scientists. The influence of ecological economics seems to be limited to areas
where it retains the standard economic view of environmental problems (e.g. ecosystem services). Interdisciplinarity has been unable to overcome political and
social barriers. Beder claims that whilst many academics seek interdisciplinarity in
their research, the same cannot be said of government ministries, departments and
agencies, which are generally divided into specialised domains dealing with stakeholders from particular sectors of the economy.
V. Kaputa et al.
globe. In fact, mankind’s dramatic role and economically driven activity influence
its own environment and the state of nature in the both negative and positive ways.
The study of economics begins with the clarification of basic relations between
the supply and demand on both a micro and a macro level. Education on micro- and
macroeconomic principles is usually based on mainstream economic thinking. It is
naturally founded on the growth (national and transnational level) and on the profit
(individual and corporate level). Thus, the tools, mechanisms and concepts used are
adjusted to achieve these goals. Solutions to the disparities between a desirable state
of the environment and its real state as a result of human economic activity are
therefore based on a change of approach as to how or whether to achieve economic growth.
3.2 Conceptual Approaches
Economy, as a science, deals with the utilisation of limited resources for the production of useful assets and services and their subsequent distribution to different
groups in society. Economics study how and why people (as consumers, corporates,
NGOs, public sectors or government agencies) make decisions about the use of
valuable resources. The area of knowledge specialised in the study of environmental
problems with the perspective and analytical ideas of economics is called environmental economics. The study of nature in its role as a provider of raw materials is
called natural resource economics (Field 1994). The field of economics, which is
contrary to the mainstream economics (and environmental economics as a part of
the mainstream economy), is ecological economics focused primarily on economicenvironmental relations. Ecological economics studies the relations of the human
being with its organic and inorganic environment (Common and Stagl 2005).
Ecological economists consider their field more interdisciplinary and argue that
environmental economics adopted neoclassical economic paradigm to the extent to
which it caused researchers to be blinded to other disciplinary views (Beder 2011).
Daly and Farley (2004) defined the objective of ecological economics as the searching of ways towards ‘steady-state economics’ and simultaneously towards a fair
distribution of resources not only for recent but also for future generations. Steadystate economics is the economy that does not grow or fall and remains at a level that
allows the restoration of natural ecosystems and the long-term dignity of mankind.
It could refer to a national economy, but also to a local, regional or global economy.
Beder (2011) introduces ecological economics as a more interdisciplinary
approach, incorporating the research of economists, ecologists, philosophers and
social scientists. The influence of ecological economics seems to be limited to areas
where it retains the standard economic view of environmental problems (e.g. ecosystem services). Interdisciplinarity has been unable to overcome political and
social barriers. Beder claims that whilst many academics seek interdisciplinarity in
their research, the same cannot be said of government ministries, departments and
agencies, which are generally divided into specialised domains dealing with stakeholders from particular sectors of the economy.
V. Kaputa et al.