Re-Thinking Green

“To the growing literature and debate on environmental governance Re-Thinking Green adds important insights about alternatives to centralized government control. . . . The book makes good on the editors’ claim that Public Choice theory ‘contributes positive insights that can promote the improvement of our institutions’. The authors featured herein effectively marry Public Choice theories’ pessimistic stance on big government with the rigorous application of economic concepts to produce a well-written and interesting collection of ideas and arguments.”

“In Re-Thinking Green, Higgs and Close present a remarkable book that should send the green bureaucracy to their collective battle stations. The book clearly shows the shortcomings of the status quo in which government agencies advance a power agenda that far more reinforces their ambition to expand their controlling turf than produce cost-effective, market-based solutions to assorted environmental problems.”

“Is the human race irrevocably headed for disaster? With ever increasing population and finite energy and other natural resources, are we truly 'spaceship earth' per R. Buckminster Fuller's vision, or are such thoughts fundamentally flawed? Can development be sustainable? If global warming and climate change are at issue, are regulations the answer or will market forces independently effect change? Is the traditional approach to managing endangered species effective? Does 'smart growth' enhance the urban environment or cause more congestion and air pollution? Are market-based solutions a viable alternative to command-and-control environmental regulations? These and other questions are examined in Re-Thinking Green.”

“Re-Thinking Green is quite relevant for the following reason. These days all kinds of environmental groups and activists are competing with each other to produce highly scary and doomsday scenarios about ever increasing threats from all kinds of either real or imagined natural hazards. While the approach is not scientific, this book presents the facts from a socio-economic point of view and makes some very rational recommendations and suggestions. For this reason, this book is of general interest and I recommend it.”

“This superb book provides provocative, fresh insights into the debate over appropriate public policy regarding the environment.”