How Much have Global Problems Cost the World?: A Scorecard From 1900 To 2050
Cambridge University Press
Edition: Reprint, 10/10/2013
EAN 9781107679337, ISBN10: 1107679338
Paperback, 404 pages, 24.4 x 17 x 2.3 cm
Language: English
There are often blanket claims that the world is facing more problems than ever but there is a lack of empirical data to show where things have deteriorated or in fact improved. In this book, some of the world's leading economists discuss ten problems that have blighted human development, ranging from malnutrition, education, and climate change, to trade barriers and armed conflicts. Costs of the problems are quantified in percent of GDP, giving readers a unique opportunity to understand the development of each problem over the past century and the likely development into the middle of this century, and to compare the size of the challenges. For example: how bad was air pollution in 1900? How has it deteriorated and what about the future? Did climate change cost more than malnutrition in 2010? This pioneering initiative to provide answers to many of these questions will undoubtedly spark debate amongst a wide readership.
Introduction Bjørn Lomborg
Executive summaries
1. Air pollution Guy Hutton
2. Armed conflicts S. Brock Blomberg and Gregory D. Hess
3. Climate change Richard S. J. Tol
4. Ecosystems and biodiversity Anil Markandya and Aline Chiabai
5. Education Harry Anthony Patrinos and George Psacharopoulos
6. Gender inequality Joyce P. Jacobsen
7. Human health Dean T. Jamison, Prabhat Jha, Varun Malhotra and Stéphane Verguet
8. Malnutrition Sue Horton and Richard H. Steckel
9. Trade barriers Kym Anderson
10. Water and sanitation Marc Jeuland, David Fuente, Semra Özdemir, Maura Allaire and Dale Whittington
Index.
Advance praise: 'For a volume covering such a large number of grim subjects, ranging from climate change and violent conflict to loss of bioversity and malnutrition, this is a surprisingly uplifting read. While mankind has succeeded in creating some depressingly disastrous social, natural and humanitarian disasters, we also have the power to alleviate and overcome these self-inflicted challenges. Bjorn Lomborg reminds us that for every part of mankind that can destroy, there is also one part that can create.' Tilman Brück, Director, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)