Questions from Environmental Economics

Q: What are the implications for cost-effective recycling programs of regulations

What are the implications for cost-effective recycling programs of regulations that establish the same recycling ratios for all sectors of the economy?

Q: We talked about “side payments” given to countries to lower

We talked about “side payments” given to countries to lower the costs to them of joining international environmental agreements. What types of side payments might be effective?

Q: Emission charges are sometimes seen as creating a “double burden”:

Emission charges are sometimes seen as creating a “double burden”: Firms must pay the costs of reducing emissions and also pay the government for polluting discharges. How might a charge system be des...

Q: What is the difference between a residual and a pollutant? Illustrate

What is the difference between a residual and a pollutant? Illustrate this in the context of a common airborne emission such as sulfur dioxide (SO2); with noise; with junked automobiles; with an unsig...

Q: Air-pollution-control authorities in southern California propose to control

Air-pollution-control authorities in southern California propose to control mobile-source emissions by requiring that a certain percentage of all new cars sold in the region be electric. Contrast the...

Q: Suppose we are comparing two ways of protecting ourselves against mobile source

Suppose we are comparing two ways of protecting ourselves against mobile source air pollution: putting additional controls on the internal combustion engine or developing an entirely different type of...

Q: Following are some illustrative numbers for benefits and costs arising from a

Following are some illustrative numbers for benefits and costs arising from a program to restrict emissions of a pollutant. Current emissions are 10 tons per month. Identify the emission level at whic...

Q: Suppose the costs of an environmental pollution-control program are expected

Suppose the costs of an environmental pollution-control program are expected to be equal to $80 per year, and that benefits will be $50 per year for 50 years, then $150 per year thereafter. At a disco...

Q: When setting public policy on environmental risks, should we base it

When setting public policy on environmental risks, should we base it on the levels of risk to which people think they are exposed or on the risk levels as scientists have determined them to be in fact...

Q: It would seem that neighbors could easily negotiate among themselves to settle

It would seem that neighbors could easily negotiate among themselves to settle problems of local externalities such as noise and unsightly land uses. Yet most communities control these problems with l...