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Resilience in social and economic systems: a concept that fails the cost–benefit test?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2001

NICK HANLEY
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG Scotland

Abstract

One of the first lessons that students of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) learn is to ask whether projects or policies which they are studying generate additional benefits or costs, relative to the status quo. They are also told to be very careful in defining the project/policy which is the subject of their analysis. In my view, the ecological concept of resilience fails the CBA test, when applied to the study of economic and social systems, because it offers no additional insights to those we have already, and appears to be poorly defined.

Type
Policy Forum
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press

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