Introduction to Special Issue: Population, Environment, and Poverty

Abstract

Nationally and globally economic growth is not solving the problem of poverty. What other approaches can be recommended. A conference to discuss this question included William Rees, Herman Daly, Wes Jackson, Virginia Abernethy, and Majid Rahnema whose papers are included in this issue. Among the issues discussed is whether the contribution of nature to the economy should be taxed by government for the benefit of the poor; how current policies pauperize farmers and what can be done about it; and how population growth is related to economic prospects. The understanding of poverty as lack of the ability to acquire goods was challenged.