The economic theory of species extinction: Comment on smith

Sinn, Hans-Werner (1982): The economic theory of species extinction: Comment on smith. In: Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Bd. 9, Nr. 2: S. 194-198

Abstract

A widely recognized article by Smith suggests that harvesting leading to species extinction may be socially optimal, provided that the species growth-potential is sufficiently low. It is shown that this conclusion hinges on special assumptions about harvest technology which, despite a superficial compatibility with neoclassical production theory, contradict a basic postulate of a pioneering article by Gordon. As soon as Gordon’s postulate is taken into account, while all other aspects of Smith’s model are maintained, it turns out that even a species with a very low growth potential should not become extinct.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Volkswirtschaft ; Volkswirtschaft > Lehrstühle > Lehrstuhl für Nationalökonomie
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
• Sprache: Englisch