My one contribution to this debate is that I would like ESA to encourage economists to use metrics of economic growth that aren't DIRECTLY in conflict with environmental sustainability.
For example, the news this week was full of stories of economists in a tizzy because of the huge drop in the construction of new homes. But if economists define economic growth as housing starts, they define growth as suburban sprawl. Another example would be to measure economic growth as increases in carbon output, or trade volume. Other economic metrics do not conflate environmental degradation with economic growth (for example, unemployment statistics, or median income). Better metrics will allow us to mentally de-couple economic growth from environmental destruction. -- <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Raphael D. Mazor Freshwater Biologist Southern California Coastal Water Research Project www.sccwrp.org www.sccwrp.org/about/staff/mazor.htm SCCWRP 3535 Harbor Blvd. Suite 110 Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1437 Tel: (714) 755-3235 Fax: (714) 755-3299
