A bibliometric account of the evolution of EE in the last two decades Is ecological economics (becoming) a post-normal science?

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Maria Manuela Castro Silva (Author) FEP; Aurora A C Teixeira (Author) FEP

Journal

Title: Ecological Economics

Vol. 70 No. 5

Pages: 849-862

ISSN: 0921-8009

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 42 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 50 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

CORDIS: Social sciences > Economics

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-T7T

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2010.11.016

Abstract (EN): In ecological economics the debate on formalism and formalization has been addressed in the context of a lively discussion on ecological economics as a 'post-normal' (versus 'normal') science. Using ecological economics (EE) as a 'seed' journal and applying bibliometric techniques to all (2533) the articles published in EE from January 1989 to December 2009, we analyze the evolution of the field of ecological economics aiming to shed light on this debate. We observe the predominance (and increased relevance) of certain research topics: 'Methodological issues', 'Policies, governance and institutions' and 'Valuation'. Moreover, 'Collective action', 'Technical change and the environment' and 'Values' stand as emergent themes of research. Finally, we note that ecological economics experienced an 'empirical turn' reflected in a shift away from exclusively formalized papers towards exclusively empirical and, to a larger extent, 'formal and empirical' ones. The combination of the prominent and emergent topics and the 'empirical turn' mirrors the increasing awareness among researchers in the field of the need to address a key specificity of ecological economics - the interdependence of the economic, biophysical and social spheres. On this basis, we argue that at least through the lens of EE, ecological economics has evolved towards a post-normal science.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14