The subject of this volume is the human economy and its coevolutionary
relationship with the natural world. This relationship is examined in
three broad types of societies; hunter--gatherers, agriculturalists, and
modern market economies. A growing body of scientific evidence has made
it clear that the current human impact on the environment is far above
the level that can be maintained without causing profound changes in the
biophysical world to which we belong. The new fields of ecological
economics and evolutionary economics can help us understand the
relationship between the economy, society and the environment and may
help us to formulate effective policies to manage these changes.