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Global environmental accounting and the remaking of the economy-environment boundary.

Authors :
Holmes, Christopher
Yarrow, David
Source :
Economy & Society; Aug2023, Vol. 52 Issue 3, p449-474, 26p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

This paper analyses the rise of environmental accounting in global governance via a case study of the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting. We draw on recent literature that highlights the boundary between 'economy' and 'non-economy' as an important site of politics, and which establishes the key role of accounting practices in constructing that boundary. We show how the conceptual framework underpinning emergent global environmental accounting standards attempts to distinguish economy from non-economy in a way consistent with mainstream macroeconomic thought. However, and in contrast to existing critical accounts, we demonstrate that attempts to draw a clear boundary between the 'economic' and 'non-economic' aspects of the environment sometimes end up de-stabilizing that very distinction, establishing heterogenous notions of economic value that are increasingly inconsistent with standard national accounting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03085147
Volume :
52
Issue :
3
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Economy & Society
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
172309188
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2023.2237350