The Environmental Economic Revolution

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Positing that environmental degradation has been caused not by overconsumption but by underconsumption--inefficient exploitation of energy and one-time use of raw materials--Silverstein ( The Environmental Factor ) argues that businesses can profit from the linkage of environment and economics, ``enomics,'' as he calls it. Though candid about the pitfalls, especially on state levels, he maintains that enomics will succeed because of the need of the world marketplace for efficient technologies, ``green buying preferences,'' and a realization of the business opportunities inherent in ``government and corporate spending on environmental protection and restoration.'' Silverstein's reporting on advances in the ``green'' restructuring of transportation, utilities, chemicals, real estate, paper and other industries is engaging, as is his analysis of the evolution of enomics in Japan, Russia and Germany. This well-written study should generate substantial interest. (Sept.)