Environmental Economics

  1. Why do we consider the environment and our available natural resources public
    goods? What about common resources?
  2. What do you think is the most relevant externality resulting from economic
    activity that impacts the environment? Be sure to explain how your choice
    qualifies as an externality and what impact it has.
  3. Of the methods discussed so far for valuing the environment, which do you think
    would be most effective at properly managing natural resources? Why?
  4. Consider the in class activity and discussion we had surrounding present versus
    future valuation of natural resources. Keeping in mind that higher discount rates
    highly favor the present over the future, what do you consider to be an
    appropriate value for the discount rate? Use a scale from 1-10%, and explain
    your choice in the context of how important conservation for the sake of future
    generations is from your point of view.