Environmental Economics

Economic growth in developing countries has long been associated with large-scale environmental degradation. Governments trying to achieve growth have too often under-invested in public goods and failed to impose the environmental regulations necessary to prevent encroachment and exploitation of ecosystems. These failures have pointed to market failures such as lack of capacity and information, but powerful political economy motivations are an important underlying factor. IPD’s Environmental Economics Task Force focuses on the basic principles and policies for sustainable development, the macroeconomics of sustainability, and issues of sustainable development and international environmental management.