/
THE ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.pdf Flashcards
Save to my account
Sign up
THE ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.pdf Flashcards
THE ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.pdf Flashcards
Study
1
Question
Environmental economics has a major role to play in the design of public policies for environmental quality improvement.
Answer
True
2
Question
According to this approach, environmental degradation is the result of human behavior that is unethical or immoral.
Answer
Moral Approach
3
Question
According to this view, in private enterprise economies such as the Western industrialized nations, people are rewarded for maximizing profits, the difference between the value of what is produced and the value of what is used up in the production process.
Answer
Profit Motive
4
Question
Why do people pollute?
Answer
People pollute because it is the cheapest way they have of solving a certain, very practical problem. Note: That problem is the disposal of the waste products remaining after consumers have finished using something, or after business firms have finished producing something.
5
Question
the application of the principles of economics to the study of how environmental resources are managed. Economics
Answer
Environmental Economics
6
Question
the study of how and why individuals and groups make decisions about the use and distribution of valuable human and nonhuman resources.
Answer
Economics
7
Question
What is the impact of economic activity on the natural environment?
Answer
It can lead to pollution or degradation of the natural environment
8
Question
Why is plastic considered a cumulative pollutant?
Answer
Plastic decays very slowly by human standards, so what is disposed of will remain in the environment permanently
9
Question
How do underground hydrological processes affect the transportation of materials disposed of in landfills?
Answer
They influence the transportation of materials disposed of in landfills
10
Question
What determines how residuals translate into particular ambient quality levels in the natural system?
Answer
Physical, chemical, biological, meteorological processes
11
Question
What is the central role of recycling in the context of production residuals?
Answer
To replace a portion of the original flow of virgin materials by substituting recycled materials for virgin materials.
12
Question
What are the intertemporal trade-offs involved in using nonrenewable resources?
Answer
The intertemporal trade-offs in using nonrenewable resources involve balancing current extraction rates with future availability, considering the economic value and sustainability implications of depletion.
13
Question
What is the main focus of early environmental concern mentioned in the text?
Answer
End flows of discharged residuals by producers and consumers
14
Question
Why are point source pollutants easier to manage compared to nonpoint source pollutants?
Answer
Point source pollutants are easier to identify, measure, monitor, and study in terms of connections between emissions and impacts, making it easier to develop control policies for them
15
Question
What is sustainability in the context of environmental decisions?
Answer
Making decisions in the short run that do not have serious negative impacts in the long run.
16
Question
What are the appropriate rates for extracting underground petroleum deposits in energy economics?
Answer
The appropriate rates for extracting underground petroleum deposits should consider factors such as resource availability, market demand, technological capabilities, and environmental impact.
17
Question
What is the difference between point source pollutants and nonpoint source pollutants?
Answer
Point source pollutants have identifiable discharge points, while nonpoint source pollutants do not have well-defined points of discharge
18
Question
What are the three ways mentioned in the text to reduce the quantity of raw materials and residuals discharged into the natural environment?
Answer
Reduce goods and services produced, reduce production residuals produced, increase recycling
19
Question
In a situation with multiple sources, who bears a greater responsibility for deteriorating air quality in a city?
Answer
The closer plant or source
20
Question
What are some examples of nonrenewable resources in natural resource economics?
Answer
Examples of nonrenewable resources in natural resource economics include petroleum reservoirs, non-energy mineral deposits, and certain groundwater aquifers with low replenishment rates.
21
Question
What determines how emissions translate into ambient quality levels in the environment?
Answer
Physical, chemical, biological, meteorological processes of the natural system
22
Question
What is the policy problem related to continuous emissions?
Answer
The policy problem is to manage the rate of these discharges.
23
Question
What does sustainability mean in terms of natural resources?
Answer
Sustainability means that resources must be used in a way that does not impair the ability of the natural resource base to support future generations.
24
Question
What are examples of pollutants that accumulate in the environment over time?
Answer
Radioactive waste, plastics, many chemicals
25
Question
What are continuous emissions?
Answer
Emissions from electric power plants or municipal waste treatment plants that are more or less continuous.
26
Question
What is the third possibility to reduce the amount of production residuals produced for a given quantity of output produced?
Answer
Increase recycling by recycling production and consumption residuals back into the production process.
27
Question
What concept has become popular as a criterion for evaluating decisions with environmental implications?
Answer
Sustainability.
28
Question
Provide an example of a point source pollutant.
Answer
Sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants, municipal waste treatment plant outfalls
29
Question
What are some examples of meteorological conditions that can affect how emissions affect ambient quality levels?
Answer
Wind and temperature conditions
30
Question
What happens when one medium receives reduced residuals?
Answer
The amounts going into other media must increase