Marxism and ecological economics

Toward a red and green political economy

Paul Burkett, Brill, 355 pages, hardback, £50

Paul Burkett provides a sharp critique of mainstream ecological economics, as well as a cogent account of the Marxist approach to environmental questions.

The book rejects attempts to put an economic value on nature (for example those who define air, water and land as "natural capital"). The author argues that market mechanisms cannot adequately represent the damage done to the biosphere.

It is particularly critical of attempts to reduce environmental policy to simply recycling.

The book comes out in support of sustainable development, arguing that such a concept is incompatible with the logic of profit-seeking, and goes on to set out the case for socialism in terms of sustainability.