Abstract
When talking about environmental issues, economics is one of the essential topics. Indeed, many would say that contemporary environmental degradations are the cost we have to pay for the economic growth we now enjoy. As policy responds to environmental issues, several economic policies have been introduced in the past half-century. However, are those economic policies sufficient to tackle contemporary environmental issues? Do they promise a sustainable future? The answer to these questions differs among economists. While most orthodox economists would say yes, those so-called heterodox economists would say no and claim that more radical actions are necessary. This chapter takes this divergence between economists seriously and considers how radical thoughts and activities are marginalized from contemporary economic discourse and environmental politics. Finally, I would like to consider ‘the governance for a sustainable future’ critically from the perspective of heterodox economics.
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Notes
- 1.
For a critical review of general textbooks of modern economics on environmental issues from a heterodox economic perspective, see Fullbrook (2019).
- 2.
It should be noted that externality is not necessarily negative effects. There are positive externalities which cause positive effects.
- 3.
For a more intensive review of the disputes between Critical Realism and pro-pluralists, see Shu Shimizu (2021).
- 4.
Lawson may not favor Daly’s use of the mathematical logic, however.
- 5.
Here it should be noted that, while Foucault has never worked on environmental issues, he has mentioned the ‘ecology movement’ in relation to the politics of truth briefly. He regards ecological study or the ecology movement as a discourse which is based on particular knowledge about nature (Foucault, 1984, p. 15).
- 6.
Indeed, he mentions ‘a kid nose-picking at the dinner table’ as one example of resistance (Foucault, 1977, pp. 421–422).
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Acknowledgements
I would like to express appreciation to the editors of the book, Prof. Adachi and Prof. Usami, who gave me such a great opportunity to write this chapter. Also, I would like to thank Prof. Aoki, Dr. Sugitani, Nene M., Ayami K. and Shiryu Y. who gave me some productive comments in writing this piece and Rachel B. who concisely proofread this piece.
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Shimizu, S. (2023). The Politics of Eco-nomics: A Critical Investigation of ‘the Governance for a Sustainable Future’ from the Perspective of Heterodox Economics. In: Adachi, Y., Usami, M. (eds) Governance for a Sustainable Future. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4771-3_9
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