Ecology and Economics—Partners for Productivity

Abstract

Energy from which power is derived to maintain human settlements is identified. The interconnectedness of mankind's endeavors and urban growth makes an interdisciplinary approach necessary and suggests greater lay participation in environmental management. The common denominator "energy" is scrutinized for the equity of its distribution since it is a master parameter for concerted effort toward enhancing lifestyle options. Two realms of investigation dealing with ecospheric dynamics—ecology and economics—are fused to demonstrate their capacity for taking into account most inputs and outputs, whether local or global. The necessity of bringing mankind's laws into line with natural law is stressed as an initial step by planning for viable and rewarding lifestyles. Humane values such as stability—physiological, psychological, and sociological homeostasis—diversity of opportunity, and freedom of choice are shown to be guaranteed by going along with rather than contravening our ecosystem's naturally antientropic tendencies. High productivity—maximal realization of benefits for each unit of energy input—may be the reward for aligning most of humanity's developments so that ecology and economics are natural partners for productivity.