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Introduction: The dynamics of coupled human and natural systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2006

JOHN G. McPEAK
Affiliation:
Department of Public Administration, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-1020. Tel: (315) 443-6146. E-mail: jomcpeak@maxwell.syr.edu
DAVID R. LEE
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University.
CHRISTOPHER B. BARRETT
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University.

Abstract

This essay introduces a special section of this issue containing a set of papers on the dynamics of coupled human and natural systems. We frame this introduction by setting out some of the major issues confronting researchers who wish to incorporate both economic and biophysical dynamics in their analysis. We contrast the three papers contained in this section in terms of how they respond to these different issues. We conclude that these papers provide important new insights on both how to model and analyze dynamic coupled human and natural systems and how to define policies that will lead to improved human well being and environmental conditions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

We thank Andrea Besley, Jason Frasco and Oliver Pierson for outstanding assistance in organizing the conference “Reconciling Rural Poverty Reduction and Resource Conservation: Identifying Relationships and Remedies” (http://aem.cornell.edu/special_progrmas/AFSNRM/Poverty/) from which the papers in this special section originate. The conference was made possible by generous support from Cornell University and the International Food Policy Research Institute. We thank Brad Barham, Randy Bluffstone, Cynthia Donovan, Simeon Ehui, Robert Faris, Berhanu Gebremedhin, Kwansoo Kim, Stephen Polasky, William Provencher, and Gil Yaron for their generous and valuable contributions as expert reviewers of papers submitted for this special section. The usual disclaimer applies.