What Is Ecological Economics?

A discipline that studies the structure, function, behavior, and regularity of composite systems composed of ecosystems and economic systems from the perspective of economics. It is an emerging discipline formed by the intersection of ecology and economics. The main research contents are: the structure, function and goal of the ecological-economic system; the relationship between economic and ecological balance and its internal laws; the relationship and laws between economic reproduction and natural reproduction; human beings in the ecological-economic system The interrelationship between economic and ecological benefits brought about by various economic activities in the country; the internal relationship between population, resources, energy, ecological environment, urban and rural construction and other issues; investment sources and effects to prevent environmental pollution and restore ecological balance Evaluation and more. ^[1]

Method of value: Establish a link between value and a link between utility and function (some internal means of external utility commonly used in environmental and resource economics, such as emissions trading, willingness survey methods, shadow prices, etc.) Systematic method: applying ecological model, spatial model and economic model to link the evaluation of the utility and function of the ecosystem to each subsystem (such as system dynamics, entropy analysis, system energy evaluation, geographic information system model) Scenario analysis: comprehensive consideration of management policy substitution, endogenous parameters, system external events and processes. The expected scenario simulation is based on the future satisfactory state of the system. Mapping or forecasting scenario simulations are based on a free extension of the current state. Social evaluation method: It can evaluate both economic value and multi-dimensional system (establishing green national accounts, input-output analysis, etc., sustainable development indicator system, ecosystem service evaluation, emergy evaluation method, ecological occupation).

Economist Robert Costanz (1978) believes that ecological economics is a discipline that discusses the relationship between ecosystems and economic systems in a wider context, mainly emphasizing people's socioeconomic activities and the changes in resources and the environment they bring. The mutual relationship emphasizes the mutual penetration and combination of economics and ecology. Many domestic scholars have also defined ecological economics. Wang Songzhang (1992) proposed that the main body of ecological economy research is the eco-economic system, which is a complex system with a certain structure and function formed by the interaction, intertwining, and infiltration of ecosystems and economic systems. Wang Dongjie et al. (1999) thought. Ecological economics is the science that studies the relationship between ecological systems and economic systems and their laws in ecological economic systems. Ji Kunsen (2001) believes that ecological economics is a science that studies the laws of the movement of the eco-economic social system composed of socio-economic systems and natural ecosystems from the perspective of economics. In addition, Zhang Mingjun et al. (2006) believe that ecological economics should include three aspects, namely, ensuring economic growth and the sustainability of the ecological environment; studying ecological economic issues from the perspective of complex systems; achieving coordinated development of economic systems and ecosystems Most ideal mode.

The first is based on the contradictory movements of economic systems and ecosystems; the second is to highlight the coordination and sustainable development of human economic and social activities and the ecological environment; the third is to try to reveal the internal relations and development laws of large systems composed of economy, ecology, society and nature , Explore the way of harmonious development between internal subsystems.

1) Interaction within. Ecological economy includes the study of the entire ecology, and attempts to analyze the ecological crisis's reaction to the economy with an ecological perspective. Because the integrity and complexity of the ecosystem not only point out the diversity of things in the ecosystem, but also affirm that people as a part of the system, their dependence on nature is also diverse, and the existence of human society depends on the large eco-economic system And self-regulatory role in biodiversity in China. Therefore, human beings must use the correct ecological concept to grasp the internal self-regulation method of the ecosystem, and use the connection, interaction and symbiosis and ecological results to achieve a systematic ecological balance. (2) Regional differences. Economic development is closely related to different natural resources and ecological conditions. Regional resource endowments and the heterogeneity of the ecological environment have contributed to the specificity of economic development and ecological economy. This requires that in each country, and even in each region, the relationship between economic development and ecological protection must be studied in accordance with specific conditions, so as to adapt to local conditions. (3) Long-term strategic. Ecological economics not only considers short-term economic benefits, but also emphasizes long-term ecological benefits and the intergenerational fairness of resource allocation and natural environment. The ecological protection, resource conservation, and pollution control of its research have long-term strategic significance. The problem is ultimately concerned with the goal of sustainable development of human society. ^[2]