Natural resource and environmental economics: a retrospective view

This article reviews the methodological and theoretical foundations of natural resource and environmental economics prior to an examination of three examples of topics of current interest in the field. The three examples are nonmarket values, benefit-cost analysis, and the new institutional economics. The article draws on the review of contemporary work to identify a number of topics deserving of attention in subsequent work in this field. The items listed would have the effect of making future research more particular and less doctrinaire.