Econ of the environment, final Flashcards
IPAT equation
environmental impact = population * affluence * technology
bandwagon effect
desire to consume due to others’ consumption
snob effect
desire to consume because others aren’t
veblen effect
displaying wealth as a status symbol
easterlin paradox
- beyond middle-class income, money buys little happiness, diminishing at a decreasing rate
rat race = social motives for consumption
prisoner’s dilemma = the collective pursuit of individual success without cooperation may lead to societal issues such as stress, inequality, environmental degradation, and overall dissatisfaction
positional goods
competition for limited goods drives up relative prices, accessible only to the wealthy
positional goods is a zero-sum game
for every person who gains access to a positional good, someone else must give it up
tax revenues in the european model
uses revenues to fund social services
two main obstacles to effective government action
- imperfect information
- opportunity for political influence
3 step process of environmental regulation
- congressional action
- regulatory drafting –> EPA defines terms like safety and prudence
- state implementation –> enforcement authority delegated to states
EPA = Environmental Protection Agency
reponsible for regulations under various laws
Toxics Release Inventory
- requires companies to publicly report on their release of 450 chemicals suspected or known to be toxic
- mere requirement of publication of data has lead to signification reported declines in emissions
important legislations passed
- clean air act (1990) –> safety
- FWPCA; Clean Water Act –> safety
- RCRA: new sites, CERCLA –> safety
- FIFRA –> efficiency
- TSCA –> efficiency
- ESA –> ecological sustainability
Clean the Air (CAA)
SAFETY
- CAA sets standards for six major air polluants, known as “criteria polluants: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead
- also the hazardous air polluants (air toxics)
