Institute for Study of Economics and the Environment
Revision as of 16:24, 2 February 2009 by Kate Spence (talk | contribs)
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]
Director of the Institute - 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]
- ↑ Lindenwood University.edu, "[1]", accessed 2nd February, 2009
- ↑ ExxonSecrets.org, "http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=808", accessed 2nd February, 2009
