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The topic of this volume is of high interest with regard to the future development of the world economy. In the past two centuries, many countries experienced an unprecedented increase in living standards. At the same time, pollution of the environment increased while the stock of worldwide natural resources declined. Consequently, the concern that environmental restrictions, especially the bounded supply of natural resources end energies, will limit economic development in the long run is widespread. Most prominently, it has been expressed in the prediction of ‘limits to growth’ by the Club of Rome in the 1970s. Today, the notion of ‘sustainable growth’ is widely accepted as a main principle in the theoretical and political discussion. But a general consensus on the consequences for the use of natural capital has still to be established. This holds true not only for economics, but also for interdisciplinary research programs and the public debate.