International economics of resource productivity : relevance, measurement, empirical trends, innovation, resource policies
- This paper undertakes a step to explaining the international economics of resource productivity. It argues that natural resources are back on the agenda for four reasons: the demand on world markets continues to increase, the environmental constraints to using resources are relevant throughout their whole life cycle, the access to critical metals could become a barrier to the low carbon economy, and uneven patterns of use will probably become a source of resource conflicts. Thus, the issue is also of relevance for the transition to a low carbon economy. "Material Flow Analysis" is introduced as a tool to measure the use of natural resources within economies and internationally; such measurement methodology now is being harmonized under OECDThis paper undertakes a step to explaining the international economics of resource productivity. It argues that natural resources are back on the agenda for four reasons: the demand on world markets continues to increase, the environmental constraints to using resources are relevant throughout their whole life cycle, the access to critical metals could become a barrier to the low carbon economy, and uneven patterns of use will probably become a source of resource conflicts. Thus, the issue is also of relevance for the transition to a low carbon economy. "Material Flow Analysis" is introduced as a tool to measure the use of natural resources within economies and internationally; such measurement methodology now is being harmonized under OECD auspices. For these reasons, the paper argues that resource productivity - that is the efficiency of using natural resources to produce goods and services in the economy - will become one of the key determinants of economic success and human well-being. An empirical chapter gives evidence on time series of resource productivity increases across a number of economies. Introducing the notion of "material flow innovation", the paper also discusses the innovation dynamics and issues of competitiveness. However, as the paper concludes, market barriers make a case for effective resource policies that should provide incentives for knowledge generation and get the prices right.…
Document Type: | Peer-Reviewed Article |
---|---|
Author: | Raimund Bleischwitz |
URN (citable link): | https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:wup4-opus-35409 |
DOI (citable link): | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10368-010-0170-z |
Year of Publication: | 2010 |
Language: | English |
Source Title (English): | International economics and economic policy |
Volume: | 7 |
Issue: | 2-3 |
First Page: | 227 |
Last Page: | 244 |
Dewey Decimal Classification: | 330 Wirtschaft |
Licence: | In Copyright - Urheberrechtlich geschützt |