Économie, environnement et destin des générations futures Introduction générale

Abstract

Here we present the contributions to this special edition of Annals of Economics and Statistics. They were presented orally at a conference on September 30th 2011 at the Caisse des Depots on the theme of Economic Issues and Sustainable Development. The articles arising from the conference papers essentially concern the following subjects: fi) criteria for choosing cost-benefit sustainable investments within their ethical and ecological dimensions; i.e. the foundations of long-term analysis in a world faced with global warming, with applications to policies concerning climate, energy and renewable and non-renewable natural resources; (ii) the political economy of environmental regulation and state intervention in the environment: here it is a case of discussing how ideas coming from economic theory can be transformed into practice in a world dominated by politics and diverse conflicts of interest.