The development of the economist's view of pollution is critically reviewed, especially the more recent theoretical and pragmatic contributions that attempt to deal with pervasive pollution effects. It is argued that the standpoint taken by most contributors is largely isolated from the view of the economic system as enclosed in a dynamic biospheric system, consisting of natural as well as social sub-systems. Since the solution to the pollution problem derived from this restricted economic perspective is regarded as unsatisfactory, more appropriate social goals associated with the holistic view of the pollution syndrome are suggested.
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