This volume presents the ideas of major figures in economics throughout history on key environmental issues such as population growth, resource scarcity and environmental contamination. Throughout, the historical roots of current debates are explored with empirical case studies illustrating the link between theory and practice. The final chapters l

Preface and Acknowledgement, Introduction and Guide to Organisation of the Book, 1. The Early Days, 2. Malthusian Problem, 3. Ricardian Stagnation, 4. Socialism, Marxism and the Environment, 5. Natural Resources and the Environment in Neo-Classical Tradition, 6. Interventionist school on natural resources and the environment, 7. Market Environmentalism Based on Property Rights, 8. Empirical Studies on Scarcity After Second World War, 9. Spaceship Earth, 10. Sustainability Debate, 11. Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of Environmental Degradation, 12. Conclusion, Bibliography, Glossary, Subject and Author Indices.