Distinguishing Ecological Economics from Environmental Economics, Green Economy, Circular Economy, and Bioeconomy in the 21st Century

Abstract

Context. In the 21st century, several economic-environmental approaches —such as ecological economics, environmental economics, green economy, circular economy, and bioeconomy— have emerged to address the increasing complexity of sustainability challenges. These frameworks stem from different historical, regional, and disciplinary contexts and reflect diverse interpretations of the relationship between the economy and the environment.

Problem. Although they share a common concern for sustainability, these approaches often overlap in terminology and scope, generating conceptual ambiguity and reducing their analytical clarity and policy relevance. The central question is: what distinguishes ecological economics from other paradigms in the 21st century?

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to differentiate ecological economics from other contemporary approaches that analyze the relationship between economy and environment. It reviews 21st-century scientific literature to establish conceptual similarities and differences, focusing on theoretical foundations and keywords.

Methodology. A meta-analysis was conducted on peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus between 2000 and 2020. Author-defined keywords were analyzed in terms of frequency, co-occurrence, and exclusivity to identify conceptual patterns among the five approaches.

Theoretical and Practical Findings. Ecological economics is distinguished by its emphasis on biophysical limits, social metabolism, political ecology, and distributional conflicts. Theoretically (Scientia), it helps delimit paradigmatic boundaries; practically (Praxis), it guides public policies and academic programs with a critical perspective on sustainability and justice.

Originality. The study applies a multidisciplinary approach that contrasts market-based models with an ecological paradigm centered on justice. It proposes “ecologizing the economy” rather than “economizing ecology.”

Conclusions and Limitations. Ecological economics emerges as a distinct and necessary paradigm. Its main limitation is the exclusive use of English-language sources. Future research should incorporate multilingual and participatory methodologies to expand this comparative framework.