内容简介
NearlyfortyyearsafterTheDeathandLifeofGreatAmericanCitiesforeverchangedthefieldofurbanstudies,JaneJacobs--oneofthefewcontemporarythinkerswhoseworkswillremaininprintforgenerations--bringsusamodernclassiconeconomiesandecology.Originalandeloquent,thisnewbooklooksattheconnectionbetweentheeconomyandnature,arguingthattheprinciplesofdevelopment,commontobothsystems,arethepropersubjectofeconomicstudy. TheNatureofEconomiesiswrittenintheformofaPlatonicdialogue,aconversationovercoffeeamongfivecontemporaryNewYorkers.Thequestiontheydiscussis:Doeseconomiclifeobeythesamerulesasthosegoverningthesystemsinnature?Forexample,canthewayfieldsandforestsmaximizetheirintakesandusesofsunlightteachussomethingabouthoweconomiesexpandwealthandjobsandcandothisinenvironmentallybeneficialways?Theunderlyingquestionisbothsimpleandprofound,andtheanswersthatemergewillshapethewaypeoplethinkabouthoweconomiesreallywork. TheNewYorkTimesdescribedJaneJacobs'sTheDeathandLifeofGreatAmericanCitiesas"firstofallaworkofliterature."Theaccessibilityofherprose--TheNewCriterioncalledit"majestic"--standsasJacobs'shallmark.Sheistherarestofanalyticthinkers,bothaneconomicvisionaryandanartist.Examiningcomplexsystemswiththewit,style,andcleareyeofthemasterlyessayist,inTheNatureofEconomiesJacobsonceagainaccomplishesthenearimpossible:Shefundamentallychallengessomeoftheestablishedprinciplesofeconomicswhilewritinginastylethatenthrallsthegeneralreader.