Privileged Goods Commoditization and Its Impact on Environment and Society

Focusing on the economic principle of commoditization, this book points out that our propensity toward environmental destruction can be understood as a result of certain hidden economic forces. These forces drive social and economic development towards increasing mobilization of energy and material beyond what is actually needed to achieve general prosperity and basic human needs. The author explains the complex concept of commoditization using examples from key sectors of society. The book is interdisciplinary in scope and will appeal to a wide variety of environmental professionals. TOC:Introduction. The Privileged Qualities of Commodities. Evolution, Systems, and Commoditization. Commoditization and the Distortion of Development. Systematic Oppression. The Institutional Development of the Commoditized Economy. Ecology and Commoditization. Toward a Coordinated Decommoditization Strategy.

What are the obstacles in the way of effectively solving the environmental crises of our time? What can we do to overcome them? These may be two of the most important questions heading into the 21st century. Organized human societies have the ability to completely change the world. While we have excelled at building, destroying and rebuilding, we have not succeeded at conserving, preserving, and sustaining.Priviledged Goods: Commoditization and Its Impact on Environment and Society suggests that our propensity toward environmental destruction - a tragic flaw of the modern economy - can be understood as a result of hidden economic forces. These forces drive social and economic development towards increasing mobilization of energy and material beyond what is actually needed to achieve general prosperity and meet basic human needs. The author explains the complex concept of commoditization using examples from key sectors of society. Interdisciplinary in scope, Privileged Goods: Commoditization and Its Impact on Environment and Society will appeal to a wide variety of environmental professionals. It explains the key concepts, discusses the history of public policy, analyzes the "appropriate technology" movement of the 70s and compares it to the sustainable development movement of today.

IntroductionThe Privileged Qualities of CommoditiesThe Process of CommoditizationExamples of How Commoditization WorksThe Attributes of CommoditizationConclusionEvolution, Systems, and CommoditizationIntroductionCommoditization and Evolutionary TheoryThe Natural Selection of CommoditiesCommoditization and SystemsConclusionCommoditization and Distortion of DevelopmentIntroductionUnfair Competition and ComparisonsIndustrial or High Input Agriculture VS Low Input AgricultureHealth Care and Health ServicesEnvironmental Pollution Control and the 4RsTransportationScience and AcademiaElectricity Sector (Box)ConclusionSystematic OppressionIntroductionLinking Oppression and CommoditizationHow to Build a CommunityConquest, Money, and CommoditizationCommoditization and the Oppression of Indigenous PeopleThe Legacy of Colonialism in the Modern Global EconomyCommoditization and the Oppression of WomenCommoditization and Class OppressionThe Underdevelopment of ImaginationConclusionThe Institutional Development of the Commoditized EconomyIntroductionEuropean FoundationsPre-industrial Commercial InstitutionsThe Rise of Industrialism and the Modern EconomyThe American ExperienceEcology and CommoditizationSustainable Development and the Challenge of EcologyEcological Principles and Economic ImplicationsConclusionToward a Coordinated Decommoditization StrategyIntroductionThe Policy WedgesThe Role of Participatory DemocracyThe Powers of GovernmentSteps in a Decommoditization StrategyDecommoditization Effect on GovernmentCredit PoliciesBuilding a Movement

Manno, Jack P.