No set of issues has tended to separate economists
and ecologists, especially in the mind of the public,
more than those surrounding the linkages between
economic growth, carrying capacity, and the environment.
The general lack of interest among the
majority of economists in problems of the environment,
and a parallel lack of interest among the
majority of ecologists in economic issues, combined
with a lack of dialogue between ecologists and
economists has allowed extreme positions to take
hold in the public debate and to influence policy to
an inordinate degree. Just one example from a recent
book covering a debate between Julian Simon and
Norman Myers (Myers and Simon, 1994) should
suffice to demonstrate just how extreme some of
these positions are. Consider the following quote by
Simon:
"We now have in our hands--in our libraries, really
--the technology to feed, clothe, and supply energy
to an ever-growing population for the next 7 billion
years. Most amazing is that most of this specific
body of knowledge developed within the past hundred
years or so, though it rests on knowledge that
had accumulated for millennia, of course. Indeed, the
last necessary additions to this body of
knowledge--nuclear fission and space travel--occurred
decades ago. Even if no new knowledge were
ever invented after those advances, we would be able to go on increasing forever, improving our standard
of living and our control over our environment. The
discovery of genetic manipulation certainly enhances
our powers greatly, but even without it we could
have continued our progress forever." (pp. 65)
This blind and total optimism about the ability of
technology to solve all our problems and allow
economic and population growth to continue unabated
forever is certainly not a position held by
many reputable economists (Ravaioli and Ekins,
1995). And yet, statements like these have been
taken as the general view of economists on growth
and the environment.