Japanese Political Economy of the Environment

As the global climate catastrophe accelerates, economic theories struggle to offer policies for sustainable development. Japanese Political Economy of the Environment draws on Japan's experiences, struggles and environmental constraints to illuminate a new economic vision incorporating both state and market institutions.

Tracing Japan's path from industrialization and pollution to environmental policy, this volume emphasizes real-world challenges. Part I (Thoughts and Theories) traces the legacy of Japanese pioneers of environmental economics such as Shigeto Tsuru and Hirofumi Uzawa, alongside K.W. Kapp's social costs and ecological Marxism. Part II (History and Policies) critically examines Japan's history of energy and environmental policies, the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and the contemporary ‘carbon-captive political-economic structure’. These analyses highlight the decisive importance of governance in overcoming environmental crises.

Exploring Japan's theoretical and empirical insights, this book is a vital resource for scholars, students and reflective policymakers seeking to understand and ameliorate environmental crisis and deliver sustainable development.