Economic Analysis On Sustainable Utilization Of Non-renewable Resources

Non-renewable resources are indispensable in social production and play fundamental role in economic development. From the inter-generational perspective of sustainable development, the utilization of non-renewable resources will be analyzed in this paper and the conclusion will be drawn that market failure exists due to inter-generational externalities. The current generation often over-utilizes the non-renewable resources for their own benefits, which damages the offspring, and thus government interference is needed. The government should take an active role in setting up sustainable consumption concept of non-renewable resources, completing market feature of allocating resources, boosting the reform of resource property right institution and the innovation of science and technology, to realize the object of sustainable utilization of non-renewable resources. This paper is divided into six chapters:Chapter One: A review and summary of the theory of sustainable utilization of non-renewable resources. This chapter is organized through two aspects. The former is how the concept of natural resources in economics evolves. The latter is the review and summary of the theories related to non-renewable resources.Non-renewable resources belong to natural resources, so the analysis on this subject cannot be isolated from the economic analysis on natural resources. Economics were related to the relation between economic activities and natural resources since its birth. Following the logic of economic theory development, different perspectives of natural resources in classical economics, Marxism economics, neo-classical economics and sustainable development theory are examined respectively. Natural resources are considered as a constraint of economic development in classical economics.