The Role of Transdisciplinary Approaches in Environmental Economics

Environmental and resource challenges continue to grow in magnitude and complexity. Addressing these challenges requires expansive thinking to formulate and implement effective solutions. Transdisciplinary research, considered the pinnacle of integration across disciplines, offers a powerful approach for addressing complex questions. Three key themes emerge from transdisciplinary research in the context of environmental economics: (a) There are degrees of transdisciplinarity that contribute to new emergent approaches and on-the-ground application through behavior and practice changes; (b) there are many examples of environmental economics research that exhibit characteristics of transdisciplinary research, but aspects of transdisciplinarity could be expanded in many cases; and (c) there are various barriers (cross-disciplinary, individual, and systemic) facing economists in the application of a transdisciplinary approach. While transdisciplinary research comes with its own barriers, environmental economists could generate large potential gains in formulating and implementing solutions by exploring the transdisciplinary mindset and approach.