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Philosophy and limitations of environmental indices

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Conclusions

The number of pitfalls strewn about the landscape of environmental indices is large, and as yet we have only a weak flashlight to help us grope through the dark. I have tried to illustrate a few of the main traps and mazes. There are undoubtedly more. Because of the importance of measures of the environment to a true quality of life index, we must persevere in this task.

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Bibliography

  • Environmental Protection Agency, ‘Quality of Life Indicators’ (Washington, December 1972). This publication gives a general review of the problems associated with environmental indices, as well as a bibliography. Secretariat Permanent pour l'Étude des Problèmes de l'Eau, ‘Inventaire du Degré de Pollution des Eaux Superficielles Rivières et Canaux’ (La Documentation Française, Paris, 1973). This work is probably the most comprehensive attempt yet at an official environmental index. However, it deals only with water.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of the Environment, Science Policy Branch, Ottawa, Canada

    Herbert Inhaber

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  1. Herbert Inhaber
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Inhaber, H. Philosophy and limitations of environmental indices. Soc Indic Res 2, 39–51 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300469

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300469

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