Introduction to Ecological Economics

At the Gund Institute, we are developing, testing, and implementing innovative methods and models that reflect the need to integrate the social, built, natural, and human capital components of our world.

This is our work. To shift the world's economies away from their present emphasis on infinite economic growth and toward a focus on sustainable human wellbeing. To forge fresh and visionary approaches to the economic challenges and opportunities that await us in the 21st century. To blur traditional academic boundaries and bring together experts, teachers, students, and stakeholders from all disciplines in order to pioneer vital new developmental tools and ideas. To guide the way to true global economic sustainability through teaching, research, design, and the practical application of those economic solutions that will generate natural capital even as they create human profit.

We invite you to survey our current programs and recent achievements on this website. More importantly, we hope you will join us for the work ahead as we explore the new and more desirable world our work continues to reveal.

Robert Costanza, Josh Farley, and Jon Erickson answer the questions:

• "What is the dominant world view today?"


• "What is the value of nature?"


• "How can one value nature?"


• "What is Quality of Life? "


• "What are some policy tools you've seen that are based on the ecological economic principles?"