Material flow models as a tool for ecological-economic decision making

✍ Scribed by Hanna-Leena Pesonen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Weight: 209 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0968-9427
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0925(199903)6:1<34::aid-ema92>3.0.co;2-y

✦ Synopsis

In this paper the applicability of material flow models in economic decision making is discussed. It is further argued that material flow models give a good basis for economic evaluation and decision making. Several arguments supporting this statement are presented and the connections of material and cash flows are discussed in depth. Also, possible restrictions when using material flow models in economic decision making are taken into account. Quantitatively important material flows are not always important in economic terms and vice versa. Some examples of this are given and the connection between material and cash flows is further discussed. The principles of how to identify an economically important flow are presented. Also some ideas about the possibilities of how to deal with uncertainty concerning economic flows are discussed.