Where is the Wealth of Nations? Measuring Capital for the 21st Century

The book presents estimates of total
wealth for nearly 120 countries, using economic theory to
decompose the wealth of a nation into its component pieces:
produced capital, natural resources and human resources. The
wealth estimates aims to provide a unique opportunity to
look at economic management from a broader and comprehensive
perspective. The book's basic tenet is that economic
development can be conceived as a process of portfolio
management, so that sustainability becomes an integral part
of economic policy making. The rigorous analysis, presented
in accessible format, tackles issues such as growth,
development and equity. This publication is organized in
four sections. The first part introduces the wealth
estimates and highlights the main facts on the level and
composition of wealth across countries. The second part
analyzes changes in wealth and how they matter for economic
policy. The third part deals with the level of wealth, its
composition and links to growth and inequality. The fourth
part reviews existing applications of resource and
environmental accounting.