Institute for Study of Economics and the Environment
The Institute for Study of Economics and the Environment (ISEE) states that its objective is to improve student and public understanding of the basic economic concepts that can be used to guide effective and efficient environmental policymaking. It states that these economic concepts include;
- Environmental Protection Is Linked to Economic Well Being. A strong and growing economy is a prerequisite for a cleaner environment. Public support for environmental protection grows as the personal incomes of citizens' increase.
- Limited Resources Introduce Tradeoffs. Environmental quality is one of many highly valued social goods as are job opportunities, quality health care, first-class educational institutions, etc. Sound science and cost-benefit analysis can be used to guide cost-effective decision-making.
- Market-like Mechanisms Often Offer Improved Methods to Effectively Control Pollution. Information complexity and dispersion make it difficult for government decision-makers to render optimal policy decisions. Market prices and subsequent opportunities for profits and individual gain coordinate information, helping to allocate resources efficiently.
- Incentives Motivate Behavior. How humans behave in the environmental arena is fundamentally shaped by the incentives that they encounter. Individuals, businesses and government entities will find effective and efficient pollution remedies when they must pay the costs of their polluting behavior and are given freedom to choose the methods of control.[1]
Institute Director- Dr Kenneth W. Chilton.
Chilton was formerly the Manager of Environmental Research at the Center for the Study of American Business (now the Weidenbaum Center).[2]
He was a Press Conference speaker for the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance (ISA) report released on July 25th 2006. The report is entitled A Call to Truth, Prudence, and Protection of the Poor: An Evangelical Response to Global Warming [3]. The paper states that while global warming exists, it is not caused by humans nor is it catastrophic. It also argues that policies which require mandatory reductions in fossil fuels in order to fight global warming are inexpedient.
Notes
- ↑ Lindenwood University.edu, "[1]", accessed 2nd February, 2009
- ↑ ExxonSecrets.org, "http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=808", accessed 2nd February, 2009
- ↑ A Call to Truth, Prudence, and Protection of the Poor: An Evangelical Response to Global Warming, "http://erlc.com/article/a-call-to-truth-prudence-and-protection", accesssed 2nd February, 2009
