The use of environmental resources in the crossfire of interests - the case of Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project

Abstract

The past years have proved with a series of obvious evidences that preliminary profit evaluation of planned investments and enumeration of their effects to the social level of well-being is impartial unless effects on environment are acknowledged in the balance. After all, economic activities, having any kinds of positive effects on the society, always use natural resources. It is a grave mistake to regard these resources as costless or free of charge. However, their application and use are virtually free, the pollution of the reservoirs or the abuse of reserves prevent us using them for other purposes; a feature that can be definitely measured on economic scale. Ignoring this value leads to investments reducing social well-being. The Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project - according to our calculations - is of this kind. The net balance shows environmental costs of similar or slightly higher magnitude than the actual profit.