TWO INTRODUCTORY NOTIONS

Abstract

The following sections are included:The purpose and the messageThe environment: An economic good?Environment and social sciencesEnvironment and pollutionEnvironment and externalitiesExternalities as two-dimensional commoditiesDirectional vs. diffuse externalitiesUnilateral vs. reciprocal and multilateral externalitiesLocal, transboundary and global externalitiesExternalities and time: Stock and intergenerational externalitiesEcological transfer functionsTransfer functionsDirectional vs. diffuse externalities resulting from alternative transfer functionsFlow vs. stock modelsA directional flow pollutant model: RAINSA diffuse stock pollutant model: The climate module of the RICE modelConclusion