Environmental damage — Environmental expenditure 1: Statistical evidence on the Federal Republic of Germany

Summary The conventional economic accounting systems have not played an enlightening role in statistically revealing the actual damage to the environment. They can, however, be methodologically improved; and they must be complemented by assessments of the ecological costs of the production process.In this article statistical evidence is provided on the level and structure of environmental damage and protection expenditures in the Federal Republic of Germany,i.e. on the environmental damage itself and on the environmental protection investments by industry and government, the capital stock for environmental protection, the total costs of and expenditures for environmental protection.Dr Christian Leipert and Prof. Udo Simonis are both regular contributors toThe Environmentalist (see 1989, pp.171–183; 1990, pp.25–38). Prof. Simonis is Director of the International Institute for Environment and Society (Wissenschaftszentrum) and Dr Leipert a member of its research staff.