10.2 environmental kuznets curve

Question 1

effect of income on environment?

Answer 1

The higher our real income, the more resources we use, thus it could be that having higher income is bad for the environment.

If environmental quality is a normal good, then higher incomes mean we demand a better environment

Question 2

IPAT

Answer 2

Created by Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren (Obama science advisor)

Environmental Impact = Population * Affluence * Technology

–> as affluence (or income) rises, we have a bigger impact on the environment

Question 3

environmental kuznets curve

Answer 3

A set of observations that show as countries develop they tend to get more polluted but then
as they continue to rise in income, they
eventually begin to lower pollution.
* inverted u-curve that shows the relationship b/w per capita GDP and air pollution

Not obvious for every type of pollution. No
agreement about the cause of the observations.

Question 4

six major forms of air pollution

Answer 4

1. ozone
2. particulate matter
3. carbon monoxide
4. lead
5. sulfur monoxide
6. nitrogen dioxide

Question 5

big takeaway

Answer 5

While there is a chance that improving environmental conditions is caused by increasing incomes, researchers are uncertain as how much of an effect there really is