Furthermore, by relying on the monetary assessments, the analysis gets one step farther removed from reality and may become less sensitive for time lags and non-linear effects, both characteristic for human and ecological systems. Therefore, relying solely on monetary information keeps us in the illusion of ecological cornucopia. However, the opulent lifestyle can only be temporary, accumulating ecological debts. Biophysical accounts can give us a more realistic picture of our state of wealth. Counting our wealth .
Wealth of nations is a core issue of economics.
However, by focusing solely on monetary wealth and disregarding the value of natural capital, these conventional measures become misplaced. If we count our personal and national monetary wealth with such obsession, precision and sophistication, it is hard to understand the feeble efforts for taking nature s assets into account. We should be even more obsessed with measuring our natural wealth, as it is this wealth which truly supports life. If we do not know how much our greatest assets are worth, or whether we are actually gaining assets, we will never know if we are sustainable. The ecological impact of spending can be made visible.