Abstract
This study presents estimates for the depreciation of the natural capital of the Brazilian economy with regard to the use of mineral and water resources. The importance of a measurement of this depreciation is linked to the treatment meted out to natural resources in social accounting systems. Insofar as the use of the environment is not normally determined at market prices, costs covering the use, depletion or degradation of natural resources are not considered in the national accounts. As the basic concerns are centred on production, the degradation and partial/total depletion of natural resources is only considered as a gain to the economy and no loss is assigned in counterpart.
Carlos Eduardo F. Young and Francisco Eduardo Mendes participated directly in this study. This research was partially supported by the Brazilian Research Council CNPq (Project 502345/91–8) and a detailed Portuguese version was published in Sera da Motta (1993). The first report of this English version was presented at the International Symposium of Models of Sustainable Development, Université Panthéon — Sorbonne/AFCET, Paris 16–18 March 1994. The author is thankful to the editors for the valuable comments introduced in this final version.
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Da Motta, R.S. (1998). Sustainability Principles and Depreciation Estimates of Natural Capital in Brazil. In: Faucheux, S., O’Connor, M., van der Straaten, J. (eds) Sustainable Development: Concepts, Rationalities and Strategies. Economy & Environment, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3188-1_13
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