But we are generally less aware of the problems besetting economics. Since I am a professional economist, I will use economics to point out the need for rethinking our approach to environmental management of the earth's ecosystems. I will also recommend books where we can search for new guiding principles and philosophy. Changing our Approach to Economics Much like forestry, economics is a profession in turmoil. Increasingly, critics claim that economic analyses are biased and short-sighted.
Economic advice is found wanting on many fronts.
This is not news to economists and probably not to decision-makers either, but the stalemate between driving forces pushing for change and forces holding economic policies and practices in the status quo led to paralysis. This may be about to change. There are several reasons for changing U.S. Forest Service economics policy and practice now. First, the Forest Service's Ecosystem Management Policy demands a new look at economic and social systems as they interrelate with ecosystems. Third, Vice President Al Gore's recent book Earth in the Balance underscores the need for a new economics that shares an eco-foundation with ecology.