Abstract: | The author examines some major concerns about global economic growth from both theoretical and empirical points of view, using "the limits-to-growth debate as a reference point to understand the earlier debate about the limits to and perils of growth, and to provide some perspective about the newer debate about environmental threats." He concludes that environmental and resource constraints on economic growth should be modest over the next 50 years and that economic growth is possible providing emphasis is given to "the importance of careful scientific and policy analysis and establishing or strengthening institutions that contain incentives that are compatible with the thoughtful balancing of long-run costs and benefits of social investments." |