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)
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA)
1972
goals for fishable and swimmable waters by 1983
elimination of risk
states responsible for water quality guildines
non-points: problem of runoff from runoff from storm sewers, farms, and construction sites
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
1976
Covers municipal and hazardous waste disposal
Comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act (CERCLA)
cleanup of abandoned sumb sites
FIFRA (Federal insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide act)
scientific studies required for new ingredients
EPA special review for potentially harmful ingredients
Toxic substances control act
- regulated chemicals until 2016
- shifted to safety-based statute in 2016
- limited information and reliance on benefit-cost analysis
