Quantifying Sustainable Development: The Future of Tropical Economies
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Table of contents
- Contentsv
- Contributorsxv
- Forewordxix
- Prefacexxiii
- Section I: Introduction: The Tropics„Paradise Imperiled?1
- Chapter 1. The Changing Tropics3
- I. Introduction3
- II. The Industrialization of Agriculture3
- III. The Increasing Need for Foreign Exchange10
- IV. Tropical Environmental Issues and Their Economic Consequences12
- V. Has Development Failed?13
- VI. Was Conventional Economics the Wrong Tool to Guide Development?13
- VII. Sustainable Development, the New Silver Bullet14
- References16
- Chapter 2. A Brief Historical and Visual Introduction to Costa Rica19
- I. Costa Rica, Green Paradise?19
- II. A Historical Perspective on Costa Rica and Its Economy22
- III. The Effects of Foreign Aid and Loans33
- IV. Costa Rica in the 1990s„Radical Changes in the Country and the Economy35
- V. Conclusions39
- References40
- Section II: Development and Sustainability43
- Chapter 3. The Theories and Myths That Have Guided Development45
- I. The Economic Issues45
- II. The Lure of Sustainable Development46
- III. The Central Question of This Book50
- IV. Some Important History about the Development of Economics57
- V. Biophysical Economics74
- References85
- Chapter 4.Data on Sustainability in Costa Rica: Time Series Analysis of Population, Land Use, Econom91
- I. Introduction91
- II. Methods93
- III. Results97
- IV. Discussion106
- V. Conclusions118
- References119
- Chapter 5. Land, Energy, and Agricultural Production in Costa Rica121
- I. Introduction121
- II. Assessing the Food Production Capacity of Costa Rica130
- III. Simulation Results140
- IV. What This Means for the Future146
- V. Conclusions153
- References155
- Section III: Adding a Spatial Dimension: Tools for Dynamic Geographical Analysis157
- Chapter 6. The Derivation and Analysis of National-Level Geographical Information: A New Model for A159
- I. Introduction159
- II. A Plan to Generate National-Level Data Bases164
- III. Our Plan to Provide a Uniform Format for Costa Rican Geographical Data166
- IV. Development of Mean Environmental Characteristics for Each Political Unit169
- V. A Free Micro GIS Program172
- References175
- Chapter 7. Geographical Modeling: The Synthesis of a GIS and Simulation Modeling177
- I. The Concepts behind Land Use Decision Making177
- II. Tools for Analysis180
- III. Applying Gradient Analysis through Geographical Modeling to Costa Rica195
- IV. Models and Policymaking197
- References198
- Section IV: Building a Geographical Database for Costa Rica203
- Chapter 8. Developing a Nationwide Topographical Database205
- I. Introduction205
- II. Construction of the Topographical Database208
- III. Generating Derivatives of the DEM215
- IV. Potential Uses in Sustainability Assessment220
- References221
- Chapter 9. Synthesis of Costa Rican Meteorological Information in a Geographical Context223
- I. Introduction223
- II. Methodology„An Overview234
- III. Methods We Used to Compute Costa Rican Digital Climate Maps239
- IV. Results247
- V. Discussion„Validating the Accuracy of the Generated Maps261
- VI. Conclusions263
- References263
- Chapter 10. Properties, Geographic Distribution, and Management of Major Soil Orders of Costa Rica265
- I. Introduction265
- II. Historical Perspective266
- III. Classifying Costa Rica’s Diverse Soils267
- IV. Conclusions289
- References290
- Chapter 11. Remote Sensing and Land Use Analysis for Agriculture in Costa Rica295
- I. Introduction295
- II. Application of Remote Sensing to Assessing Forest Cover and Land Use Change in Costa Rica310
- III. Analysis of Crops318
- IV. The Future of Costa Rican Institutions Developing Remote Sensing Applications341
- V. Conclusion343
- References344
- Section V: Application to Sustainability Issues for Costa Rica’s Natural Resources347
- Chapter 12. Temporal and Spatial Overview of Costa Rican Agricultural Production349
- I. Introduction349
- II. Trends in Land Use and Agricultural Yield350
- III. The Geography of Agriculture376
- IV. An Energy Flow Analysis of Agricultural Productivity in Costa Rica393
- V. Conclusion398
- References400
- Chapter 13. Biophysical Agricultural Assessment and Management Models for Developing Countries403
- I. Introduction403
- II. Model 1: ALES Land Use Potential Evaluation System404
- III. Model 2: DSSAT Crop Simulation Models413
- IV. Discussion418
- V. Conclusions420
- References420
- Chapter 14. Geographical Synthesis of Data on Costa Rican Pastures and Their Potential for Improveme423
- I. Introduction423
- II. Pastures431
- III. Economic Issues443
- IV. Conclusion444
- References446
- Chapter 15. The Extent and Economic Impacts of Soil Erosion in Costa Rica449
- I. Introduction449
- II. Literature Review450
- III. Methods457
- IV. Results460
- V. Discussion464
- VI. Conclusions467
- References468
- Chapter 16. Land Use and Cover Change in Costa Rica: A Geographic Perspective473
- I. Introduction473
- II. Overview of Past and Present Remote Sensing and GIS Studies in Costa Rica475
- III. Methods478
- IV. Results481
- V. Discussion494
- VI. Conclusions498
- References500
- Chapter 17. Gradient Analysis of Biomass in Costa Rica and a First Estimate of Countrywide Emissions503
- I. Introduction503
- II. Methods506
- III. Results and Discussion514
- IV. Conclusions522
- References523
- Chapter 18. Forestry in Costa Rica and an Estimate of Energy Potentially Available from Forests527
- I. Introduction527
- II. Use of Costa Rican Forests and the Forestry Industry528
- III. Could the Forest Provide the Energy That Costa Rica Needs for Its Economy?534
- IV. Discussion539
- References541
- Chapter 19. Assessing the Role of Parks for Protecting Forest Resources Using GIS and Spatial Modeli543
- I. Introduction543
- II. Using a GIS to Assess the Quality of National Parklands548
- III. Using Spatial Modeling to Assess Resistance to Land Use Change555
- IV. Discussion539
- References541
- Section VI: Biophysical Analysis of Major Components of the Economy561
- Chapter 20. The Costa Rican Banana Industry: Can It Be Sustainable?563
- I. Introduction563
- II. The Present Role of the Banana Industry in the Costa Rican Economy572
- III. Toward a Sustainable Banana Production Future586
- IV. Visions and Goals590
- References591
- Chapter 21. The Costa Rican Coffee Industry595
- I. Introduction595
- II. How Sustainable Is Sustainable? A Biophysical Perspective606
- III. Why Areas with Suboptimal Growing Conditions Get Higher Selling Prices: A Case Study in the Wes621
- IV. Land Use Changes624
- V. Summary and Conclusions624
- References625
- Chapter 22. Costa Rican Industry: Characteristics, History, and Potential for Sustainability629
- I. Introduction629
- II. The History of the Costa Rican Industrial Sector630
- III. Will Emerging Industries Be Any Different?633
- IV. Sustainability of the Costa Rican Industrial Sector636
- References644
- Chapter 23. The Internationalization of the Costa Rican Economy: A Two-Edged Sword647
- I. Introduction647
- II. Results654
- III. Discussion660
- IV. Conclusion662
- References663
- Chapter 24. An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Structural Adjustment Policies in Costa Rica665
- I. The Costa Rican Strategy of Export-Led Growth665
- II. Discussion: The Political Implications of Structural Adjustment Policies677
- References691
- Chapter 25. Comparative Estimates of Sustainability: Economic, Resource Base, Ecological Footprint,695
- I. Introduction695
- II. Summary from Other Chapters of This Book696
- III. Calculating the Ecological Footprint of Costa Rica: Does Costa Rica Fit inside Costa Rica?697
- IV. Emergy, Foreign Trade, and Carrying Capacity in Costa Rica706
- V. Results and Discussion of Emergy Analysis710
- VI. Summary and Conclusions712
- References713
- Chapter 26. The Myth of Sustainable Development715
- I. The Impossibility of Sustainable Development715
- II. Why Conventional Development Does Not Work723
- III. Conclusion: There Is Hope727
- References731
- Appendix I. Low-Cost Mapmaking733
- Appendix II. A Free Micro GIS Program745
- Appendix III747
- Index753
Until recently, the phenomenal economic development of the Asian tigers, Chile, and Malaysia, as well as the sustained economic growth of the United States, painted a very desirable and optimistic picture of free markets, fiscal responsibility, and, more generally, the entire dogma of neoclassical economics. As of the fall of 1998, however, the economies of many tropical countries have contracted severely, and the enthusiasm of the developing tropics for the free market and all of its ancillary policies is decidedly cooler. Have our traditional approaches to economics been failing the developing world?
This interdisciplinary book covers the conditions of the developing tropics, the resistance of some of their problems to earlier attempts at solutions, and the use of new tools to develop a much more comprehensive and empirical framework for analysis and decision making. It also presents the development of cutting edge technology that links GIS and modeling approaches with extensive databases on meteorology, soils, agricultural production, and land use. The book discusses whether development is sustainable through a synthesis of demographic, economic, and resource-specific considerations. Costa Rica is uniquely suited to this study because of its size, stage of development, democratic institutions, and national databases.
A CD-ROM containing all data and programs, color images, animated models, large data tables, and references accompanies the book.
Key Features
* Links economic and biophysical analyses of sustainability
* Presents new tools and approaches for analysis and decision-making
* Includes a CD-ROM containing data and programs, color images, animated models, and references
This interdisciplinary book covers the conditions of the developing tropics, the resistance of some of their problems to earlier attempts at solutions, and the use of new tools to develop a much more comprehensive and empirical framework for analysis and decision making. It also presents the development of cutting edge technology that links GIS and modeling approaches with extensive databases on meteorology, soils, agricultural production, and land use. The book discusses whether development is sustainable through a synthesis of demographic, economic, and resource-specific considerations. Costa Rica is uniquely suited to this study because of its size, stage of development, democratic institutions, and national databases.
A CD-ROM containing all data and programs, color images, animated models, large data tables, and references accompanies the book.
Key Features
* Links economic and biophysical analyses of sustainability
* Presents new tools and approaches for analysis and decision-making
* Includes a CD-ROM containing data and programs, color images, animated models, and references