Reading 5

Question 1

Which of the following is a market-based strategy for regulating disposable shopping bags?
a) A ban on thin plastic bags
b) A fee for each disposable bag used
c) Mandating reusable bags
d) Imposing a minimum weight for bags

Answer 1

b) A fee for each disposable bag used

Question 2

What percentage of disposable plastic waste ends up in the ocean, according to some estimates?
a) 1%-2%
b) 2%-5%
c) 10%-15%
d) 15%-20%

Answer 2

b) 2%-5%

Question 3

Which concept explains why taxes are more effective than rewards in changing consumer behavior?
a) Anchoring bias
b) Loss aversion
c) Framing effect
d) Sunk cost fallacy

Answer 3

b) Loss aversion

Question 4

What is the approximate annual cost to local U.S. governments for cleaning up plastic bags?
a) $1-2 billion
b) $3-8 billion
c) $10-15 billion
d) $20 billion

Answer 4

b) $3-8 billion

Question 5

What is a potential unintended consequence of a stand-alone ban on thin plastic bags?
a) Reduced bag usage overall
b) Increased use of thicker plastic bags
c) Higher demand for reusable bags
d) Decline in grocery store profits

Answer 5

b) Increased use of thicker plastic bags

Question 6

Which country was the first to ban thin plastic bags?
a) Ireland
b) Kenya
c) Bangladesh
d) United States

Answer 6

c) Bangladesh

Question 7

Why do paper bags have a larger carbon footprint than plastic bags?
a) They require more material to produce
b) They are heavier and cost more to transport
c) They are not biodegradable
d) They are harder to recycle

Answer 7

b) They are heavier and cost more to transport

Question 8

Which behavioral science concept helps explain the effectiveness of small taxes?
a) Status quo bias
b) Salience
c) Reciprocity
d) Scarcity effect

Answer 8

b) Salience

Question 9

In which U.S. city was a 5-cent tax on disposable bags first introduced?
a) New York
b) San Francisco
c) Washington, D.C.
d) Chicago

Answer 9

c) Washington, D.C.

Question 10

Which type of bag policy typically combines a ban on thin plastic bags with fees for other bags?
a) Stand-alone bans
b) Market-based strategies
c) Hybrid bans
d) Reusable bag bonuses

Answer 10

c) Hybrid bans

Question 11

What effect does the “Cobra Effect” describe in the context of environmental policy?
a) An increase in public opposition
b) An unintended outcome worsening the problem
c) Complete success of the policy
d) A reduction in the target issue

Answer 11

b) An unintended outcome worsening the problem

Question 12

According to research, how much did disposable bag use decrease after a 5-cent tax in Montgomery County, Maryland?
a) 10%
b) 25%
c) 42%
d) 60%

Answer 12

c) 42%

Question 13

Which of the following was a common reaction to the stand-alone ban on thin plastic bags in Chicago?
a) A switch to paper bags
b) A switch to thicker plastic bags
c) An increase in reusable bag usage
d) A protest by retailers

Answer 13

b) A switch to thicker plastic bags

Question 14

What is the carbon footprint ratio of paper bags compared to plastic bags according to the UK’s Environment Agency?
a) 2 times
b) 3 times
c) 4 times
d) 5 times

Answer 14

c) 4 times

Question 15

Which factor makes a tax more salient to consumers?
a) Low enforcement
b) Media coverage
c) Reduced tax visibility
d) Complexity of the tax

Answer 15

b) Media coverage

Question 16

What percentage of disposable plastic bags are re-used by consumers, often as trash liners?
a) 5%
b) 20%
c) 40%
d) 60%

Answer 16

c) 40%

Question 17

Which U.S. state was the first to pass a law banning disposable plastic bags?
a) Vermont
b) Oregon
c) California
d) New York

Answer 17

c) California

Question 18

How did retailers in Honolulu respond to a plastic bag ban?
a) They adopted thicker plastic bags
b) They encouraged reusable bag usage
c) They stopped providing bags altogether
d) They switched to paper bags

Answer 18

a) They adopted thicker plastic bags

Question 19

What proportion of plastic bag waste reduction was offset by increased purchases of trash bags in California?
a) 10%
b) 20%
c) 25%
d) 50%

Answer 19

c) 25%

Question 20

Which method is considered the “gold standard” for determining cause and effect in policy evaluation?
a) Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
b) Simple-difference studies
c) Observational research
d) Difference-in-differences methodology

Answer 20

a) Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)