1. Toward a neoclassical theory of sustainable consumption: Eight golden age propositions.
- Author
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Saunders, Harry D.
- Subjects
- *
ECOLOGICAL economics , *NEOCLASSICAL school of economics , *SUSTAINABILITY , *CONSUMPTION (Economics) , *GENERAL equilibrium theory (Economics) , *DUALITY theory (Mathematics) - Abstract
Popular trends in ecological economics increasingly consign neoclassical economics to the sidelines of modern-day relevancy. The neoclassical tradition is often seen as reliant for its authenticity on a presumption of human avarice - both unbridled consumerism and corporate cupidity - and demanding for its real-world applicability an assumption of continuous economic growth in a world of hard limits. This article examines the question of whether neoclassical theory could instead provide keys to deeper understanding of sustainable consumption. By combining in a single framework neoclassical growth theory, general equilibrium theory and duality theory - and by explicitly considering leisure time - the analysis demonstrates that neoclassical economics yields several useful insights bearing on long-term sustainability. The analysis confirms several tenets of ecological economics and challenges others. Eight propositions emerge from this analysis that could help speed the development of a robust neoclassical theory of sustainable consumption, here branded "golden age" propositions as they strongly echo the "Golden Rule" discoveries of Edmund Phelps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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