Hecht, Joy E.

Environmental accounting---the modification of the national income accounts to take into consideration the economic role of the environment---has grown in importance over the past ten years. However, many countries have not yet implemented such accounts, and there is much controversy about whether and how to do so.

The tools of environmental economics are not as well-known in Asia as they should be. This volume seeks to fill this gap by building understanding in this important area and showing policy-makers how these tools can contribute to resolving important questions in South Asian development. The book begins with an overview paper explaining what economists think about the environment and introduces the tools of valuation, cost-benefit analysis and environmental accounting.