Economics is about meeting human needs and, at its core, it is about the exchange of goods and services. It is a basic human activity and occurred long before there were economists and economic theories. Exchanges occurred because they benefited both parties and did so without advertising, stock exchanges or global corporations. Exchanges of tools and raw materials between regions occurred even before agriculture emerged. Neoclassical economic theory is based on the view that people are insatiably acquisitive and that if individuals act in their self-interest to satisfy these needs, then the greatest good will occur for the largest number of people. This view of people as “homo economicus” is at the core of the idea that the market can provide the greatest good; it is the invisible hand of the market, through individuals acting in their self-interests, that creates the greatest social good. This view of human nature is in sharp contrast with the view that humans are essentially social beings, whose happiness and well-being are largely determined by their relationships with each other. And this is an issue concerning trust. To what extent is the effect of social trust on participation mediated by political efficacy? The question is why it is important to focus our attention, particularly on the mediation effects of internal and external political efficacy in the analysis of the relationship between social trust and political decision-makers. This debate centres on social capital and political capital literature, explaining how social trust, as a social attitude, can convert into political skills.

A comprehensive analysis of diverse areas of scholarly research on U.S. environmental policy and politics, this Handbook looks at the key ideas, theoretical frameworks, empirical findings and methodological approaches to the topic. Leading environmental policy scholars emphasize areas of emerging research and opportunities for future enquiry.

Prior to the Nixon administration, environmental policy in the United States was rudimentary at best. Since then, it has evolved into one of the primary concerns of governmental policy from the federal to the local level. As scientific expertise on the environment rapidly developed, Americans became more aware of the growing environmental crisis that surrounded them. Practical solutions for mitigating various aspects of the crisis - air pollution, water pollution, chemical waste dumping, strip mining, and later global warming - became politically popular, and the government responded by gradually erecting a vast regulatory apparatus to address the issue. Today, politicians regard environmental policy as one of the most pressing issues they face. The Obama administration has identified the renewable energy sector as a key driver of economic growth, and Congress is in the process of passing a bill to reduce global warming that will be one of the most important environmental policy acts in decades. The Oxford Handbook of U.S. Environmental Policy will be a state-of-the-art work on all aspects of environmental policy in America. Over the past half century, America has been the world's leading emitter of global warming gases. However, environmental policy is not simply a national issue. It is a global issue, and the explosive growth of Asian countries like China and India mean that policy will have to be coordinated at the international level. The book will therefore focus not only on the U.S., but on the increasing importance of global policies and issues on American regulatory efforts. This is a topic that will only grow in importance in the coming years, and this will serve as an authoritative guide to any scholar interested in the issue.

Areas of concern are identified as critical natural services that have been exploited beyond their regeneration capacity. In this second Volume, the concept of ​​sustainable scale is assessed, with some limits and thresholds underlined. It should be noted that environmental impacts, combined with ethical and cultural issues, will irrevocably damage life-support natural functions if not corrected. The hole in the ozone layer, biodiversity, climate change, energy, population, soil fertility, toxic substances, water, commerce and trade, natural disasters, and humans threaten all critical ecosystems. The available scientific data, as time passes more precise and reliable, show humans have a key role in this situation, also for inability to take a proactive part in political decision making. In this context, attention was given to the role of humanity intoxicated by the current economic paradigm, which is ruled by market laws that aim to obtain a mere financial advantage.

The Handbook of Global Climate and Environment Policy presents an authoritative and comprehensive overview of global policy on climate and the environment. It combines the strengths of an interdisciplinary team of experts from around the world to explore current debates and the latest thinking in the search for global environmental solutions. Explores the environmental challenges we currently face, and the concepts and approaches to solving these Questions the role of global actors, institutions and processes, and considers the links between global climate and environment policy, and that of the global economy Highlights the connections between social science research and global policy Brings together authoritative coverage of recent research by internationally-renowned experts from around the world, including from North America, Europe, and Asia Provides an essential resource guide for students and researchers from across a wide range of related disciplines – from politics and international relations, to environmental sciences and sociology – and for global policy practitioners

Scale problems refer to the threats posed by economic activities to global life support systems such as the atmospheric ozone layer's protection against ultraviolet radiation, and the carbon cycle's provision of climate stability. Human economic activities are now threatening these natural systems at both the local and global levels for the first time in the history of the planet.Scale problems are caused by the physical size of the global economy; the sheer volume and toxicity of the mass of physical materials that are moved or transformed in normal economic production cycles are disrupting the ecosystems that provide global life support services. The physical size of the global economy continues to expand as economic growth is encouraged and facilitated by trade and other government policies at all levels.A variety of approaches to solving scale problems exist. Many have been implemented or are being tested in various countries and communities around the world. Because of the complex nature of scale issues, solutions are being explored via innovative economic and business ideas, creative public policy initiatives, sustainable technologies, and inspiring human values.Mother nature is continually affected by problems which are inadequately addressed by decision makers whether they are representatives of government, deep states, businessmen, civil society influencers. The aim is to keep interest alive and continue to make generations aware, to disseminate information and follow day by day which options and solutions are within everyone's reach.

During the last few decades, China has accomplished unprecedented economic growth and has emerged as the second largest economy in the world. This ‘economic miracle’ has led hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, but has also come at a high cost. Environmental degradation and the impact of environmental pollution on health are nowadays issues of the greatest concern for the Chinese public and the government. The Routledge Handbook of Environmental Policy in China focuses on the environmental challenges of China’s rapidly growing economy and provides a comprehensive overview of the policies developed to address the environmental crisis. Leading international scholars and practitioners examine China’s environmental governance efforts from an interdisciplinary perspective. Divided into five parts, the handbook covers the following key issues: Part I: Development of Environmental Policy in China - Actors and Institutions Part II: Key issues and Strategies for Solution Part III: Policy Instruments and Enforcement Part IV: Related Policy Fields – Conflicts and Synergies Part V: China’s Environmental Policy in the International Context This comprehensive handbook will be an invaluable resource to students and scholars of environmental policy and politics, development studies, Chinese studies, geography and international relations.

Handbook in Environmental Economics, Volume 4, the latest in this ongoing series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting timely chapters on Modeling Ecosystems and Economic Systems, Framing Sustainability Policy Questions: Who Leads – Ecology or Economics?, Valuing Natural Capital Within an Integrated Economic Ecological, Developing Economies, Urbanization, Climate Change and Health, Viewing Environmental Policy Instruments for Domestic and International Perspective, Quasi experimental Estimation of Environmental Policies, Environment Macro, The Rules for Formal and Informal Institutions in Managing Environmental Resources, and How Should Uncertainty Be Integrated into the Methods for Policy Evaluation? - Answers key policy questions facing environmental agencies in developed and developing economies - Integrates insights from economics and ecology as part of several key chapters - Presents the latest on efforts to review and evaluate the new literatures on field and quasi experiments in environmental economics - Provides the first substantive review of environmental macro economics

The Handbook of Environmental Economics focuses on the economics of environmental externalities and environmental public goods. Volume I examines environmental degradation and policy responses from a microeconomic, institutional standpoint. Its perspective is dynamic, including a consideration of the dynamics of natural systems, and global, with attention paid to issues in both rich and poor nations. In addition to chapters on well-established topics such as the theory and practice of pollution regulation, it includes chapters on new areas of environmental economics research related to common property management regimes; population and poverty; mechanism design; political economy of regulation; experimental evaluations of policy instruments; and technological change.

The second edition of this leading reference work provides a comprehensive discussion of the dynamic and important field of international law concerned with environmental protection. It is edited by globally-recognised international environmental law scholars, Professor Lavanya Rajamani and Professor Jacqueline Peel, and features 67 chapters authored by 76 renowned experts in their fields. The Handbook discusses the key principles underpinning international environmental law, its relevant actors and tools, and rules applying in its substantive sub-fields such as climate law, oceans law, wildlife and biodiversity law, and hazardous substances regulation. It also explores the intersection of international environmental law with other areas of international law, such as those concerned with trade, investment, disaster, migration, armed conflict, intellectual property, energy, and human rights. The Handbook sets its discussion of international environmental law in the broader interdisciplinary context of developments in science, ethics, politics and economics, which inform the way in which environmental rules are made, implemented, and enforced. It provides an introduction to the foundations of international environmental law while also engaging with questions at the frontiers of research, teaching, and practice in the field, including the role of Global South perspectives, the contribution made by Earth jurisprudence, and the growing role of a diverse range of actors from indigenous peoples to business and industry. Like the first edition, this second edition of the Handbook is an essential reference text for all engaged with environmental issues at the international level and the applicable governance and regulatory structures.