Deck 14: Economics, Politics, Worldviews, and Sustainability

Question 1

GDP differs from GPI in that

A)GDP is a subjective measure; GPI is objective.
B)GPI accounts for the costs of both basic human needs and environment harm; GDP does not.
C)GDP accounts for social costs; GPI focuses on economic output only.
D)GDP incorporates external costs; GPI does not.
E)GDP includes transactions in which money does not change hands, such as volunteer work; GPI does not.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

GPD and per capita GDP

A)measure and compare cap-and-trade benefits.
B)measure and compare the efficiency of tax shifting.
C)measure and compare subsidies provided by more-developed nations.
D)measure and compare the economic output of nations.
E)generally are not useful for economists.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The models of ecological economists focus on

A)resource conservation, sustainable economic development, and full-cost pricing.
B)eliminating the national debt while maintaining government subsidies.
C)maximizing the flow of matter and energy resources.
D)minimizing the costs associated with pollution by whatever means necessary.
E)minimizing the flow of matter and energy resources.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Environmental economists

A)view the earth's natural capital as a subset of human economic systems.
B)advocate refining existing economic systems to be sustainable systems of the biosphere.
C)see the potential of economic growth as unlimited.
D)believe high waste economies are desirable as long as waste and pollution are managed.
E)prioritize the efficient flow of resources as inputs to economic systems.

Question 5

Which of the following business activities represents a service-flow business?

A)farming
B)leasing and servicing copy machines
C)selling gasoline
D)extracting natural gas
E)selling electric bicycles

Question 6

The science of economics examines

A)the ways in which people become rich.
B)methods for saving money.
C)methods for spending money.
D)the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
E)the increase of GDP.

Question 7

Internalizing external costs

A)involves making the market price approach the true cost of an economic good.
B)fails to include the cost of pollution.
C)omits the costs of taxes.
D)increases the chance for environmental degradation.
E)lowers the cost of goods and services.

Question 8

Tradable pollution rights

A)are not a market strategy to reduce pollution and resource waste.
B)does not allow companies to save unused credits for future use.
C)can be effective, depending on where the initial limits are set and the rate at which they are reduced.
D)have not been successful in reducing sulfur dioxide emissions in the U.S.
E)can be used only for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 9

Tax shifting can be used as an effective strategy to promote sustainability if it

A)increases taxes on income.
B)increases taxes on property.
C)decreases taxes on automobiles.
D)decreases the total amount of taxes levied by the government.
E)increases taxes on products that are known pollutants.

Question 10

The ____ price that we pay for something does not usually include the ____ costs of harm to the environment and human health associated with its production.

A)tradable; flat
B)market; external
C)indirect; direct
D)external; market
E)green; excessive

Question 11

Full-cost pricing

A)could be implemented through government action.
B)reduces the final cost of goods.
C)would likely result in consumers making less environmentally sound choices.
D)relies on making the market price higher than the true cost of a product or service.
E)is unsustainable.

Question 12

Which of the following is an assumption of ecological economists?

A)Resources are limited and we should not waste them.
B)Pollution control and economic growth are not interrelated.
C)The potential for economic growth is essentially unlimited.
D)Current economic models should be fine-tuned to help offset environmental damage.
E)Government should bear full responsibility for environmental damage through subsidies.

Question 13

Eco-labeling

A)helps environmentalists recognize each other.
B)is used by governments to identify individuals who matter.
C)requires disposable labels and is environmentally unsound.
D)identifies products produced by environmentally sound methods.
E)helps scientists identify fragile ecosystems.

Question 14

Which of the following categories includes the others?

A)human capital
B)natural resources
C)economic resources
D)manufactured capital
E)energy resources

Question 15

Which of the following is an assumption of neoclassical economists?

A)Resources are limited and we should not waste them.
B)Pollution control and economic growth are not interrelated.
C)The potential for economic growth is essentially unlimited.
D)Current economic models should be fine-tuned to help offset environmental damage.
E)Producers and consumers should bear full responsibility for environmental damage.

Question 16

Perverse subsidies are most likely to

A)support the principles of sustainability
B)increase GPI
C)damage GDP.
D)lead to environmental damage.
E)be punishable with jail terms.

Question 17

Economic growth of most developed countries focuses on

A)controlling human population size and resource use to fall within the earth's carrying capacity.
B)internalizing external costs.
C)maximizing the flow of matter and energy resources.
D)social and environmental indicators of quality of life.
E)minimizing the flow of matter and energy resources.

Question 18

Ray Anderson is noted as a model businessman because he

A)ran a major carpet retailer while following government regulations.
B)was an innovator of new carpet design techniques using the latest technology.
C)shifted a large company toward sustainable business practices while growing his business.
D)acknowledged that growing his business was secondary to practicing sustainability.
E)lobbied effectively for government carpet square subsidies.

Question 19

The command and control approach to environmental regulation relies on

A)innovation.
B)tax shifts.
C)cap-and-trade.
D)enforcing cleanup.
E)tradable resource-use permits.

Question 20

Poverty is usually defined as

A)not being able to live sustainably
B)not being able to meet one's basic economic needs.
C)earning less than $100 per year.
D)meeting one's dietary needs on a day-to-day basis
E)not owning one's own home.

Question 21

Microloans are particularly effective tools for combating

A)global warming.
B)external costs.
C)subsidies.
D)taxes.
E)poverty.

Question 22

A lifestyle of voluntary simplicity is typically practiced by

A)poorer residents of more-developed countries.
B)wealthy residents of less-developed countries.
C)poorer residents of less-developed countries.
D)affluent residents of more-developed countries.
E)those living in poverty worldwide.

Question 23

Which action least reflects an ecocentric worldview?

A)protecting the earth's biodiversity
B)controlling human population growth
C)creating better pollution treatment technologies
D)increasing our dependence on renewable resources
E)supporting a service-based economy

Question 24

An international convention is

A)legally binding.
B)created by the judicial branch
C)created by the legislative branch.
D)a non-binding policy declaration.
E)a quick and easy solution to environmental problems.

Question 25

Which of the following least reflects environmentally ethical guidelines regarding ecosystems?

A)We should work with nature to sustain ecological integrity.
B)We should live in ways that do the least harm to environmental systems.
C)We should focus on the short-term because it's impossible to imagine the long-term.
D)We should try to understand nature.
E)We should emphasize nature's high intrinsic value.

Question 26

Which of the following least reflects environmentally ethical guidelines regarding individual responsibility?

A)We should not waste resources.
B)We should not inflict unnecessary pain on other species.
C)We should leave the earth in as good or better shape than we found it.
D)We should make ourselves and our families as comfortable as possible.
E)We should acknowledge that every species has an intrinsic right to life.

Question 27

In the U.S., public lands primarily used for mining, oil and gas extraction, and livestock grazing, are managed by the

A)U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
B)Department of Energy.
C)Bureau of Land Management.
D)National Park System.
E)Department of Defense.

Question 28

If a law is passed on an environmental policy, the next consideration is to

A)appoint an overseer group.
B)be set aside funds adequate to enforce the law.
C)inform the public.
D)determine if it's unconstitutional.
E)defeat it.

Question 29

A constitutional democracy would have the most difficulty in responding to

A)a threat of attack
B)the possibility of long-range global warming
C)an economic depression
D)a labor strike
E)a sharp increase in gasoline prices

Question 30

Anjali Appadurai is notable for her

A)insistent support of neoclassical economics.
B)green business acumen.
C)rousing talk at the U.N. Climate Conference in Durban, South Africa.
D)extensive research on economic conditions in less-developed countries.
E)belief that environmental decisions should be made with patience and a long-term view.

Question 31

Developers and resource extractors have proposed that

A)national parks should be opened to commercial development
B)public lands should be valued for their biodiversity.
C)extractors should not get subsidies for mining on public lands.
D)the American people deserve fair compensation for use of their property.
E)extractors should be fully responsible for any environmental damage they cause.

Question 32

National recreation areas are part of

A)the National Park System.
B)the National Wilderness Preservation System.
C)National Wildlife Refuges.
D)National Resource Lands.
E)National Forests.

Question 33

The system of most restricted public lands, where no roads can be built but recreation is allowed, is called the

A)National Parks system.
B)Wildlife Refuges system.
C)National Resource Lands system.
D)National Forests system.
E)National Wilderness Preservation Lands system.

Question 34

Which of the following is an example of a life-centered environmental worldview?

A)planetary management worldview
B)stewardship worldview
C)environmental wisdom
D)economic wisdom.
E)the IUCN

Question 35

____ consists of environmental laws, rules and regulations that are developed, implemented and enforced by one or more government agencies.

A)U.N. Environmental Program
B)Environmental policy
C)The prevention principle
D)An NGO
E)The WHO

Question 36

Three-fourths of federal public land set aside for public use, resources extraction, enjoyment and wilderness habitat can be found in

A)California
B)Oregon
C)West Virginia
D)North Dakota
E)Alaska

Question 37

The most powerful and controversial thing that the executive and legislative branches of government do is to

A)compromise.
B)develop and adopt a budget.
C)enact laws.
D)establish policies.
E)amend existing laws.

Question 38

Several "earth" philosophers feel that emotional rootedness comes from developing a(n)

A)sense of place.
B)alternate reality.
C)bond with animals.
D)conscience.
E)lack of material wants.

Question 39

Which of the following concepts includes all the others?

A)economic security
B)national (military) security
C)global environmental security
D)food security
E)flood security

Question 40

People calling for more environmental stewardship generally believe that

A)pure capitalism should be used to make our economic decisions.
B)better science and technology can fix our problems.
C)we have an ethical responsibility to be caring managers of the earth.
D)a mixture of market-based competition, improved technology, and government intervention can solve our problems.
E)ecosystems have little instrumental value.

Question 41

Gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of the gross progress indicator (GPI) plus benefits not included in market transactions, minus harmful environmental and social costs.

Question 42

The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace and the Grameen Bank are examples of non-governmental organizations working toward environmental conservation.

Question 43

The precautionary principle is guided by the idea that we must make decisions that prevent a problem from occurring or worsening.

Question 44

The United States' per capita gross domestic product (GDP) increased substantially more than the per capita genuine progress indicator (GPI) from 1950 to 2002.

Question 45

Command and control approaches to environmental regulation concentrate on enforcing cleanup instead of pollution prevention.

Question 46

Blind technological optimism could be a trait of someone with a neoclassical worldview.

Question 47

A(n) environmentally ____________________ economy neither depletes natural resources nor pollutes at levels that overwhelm the ability of ecosystems to absorb waste.

Question 48

A(n) ____________________ is a social institution through which goods and services are produced, distributed and consumed to satisfy people's needs and wants.

Question 49

Three types of resources are used to produce goods and services. They are ____________________, ____________________ and ____________________.

Question 50

In the U.S., federal public land may be purchased by citizens for private ownership directly from the government.

Question 51

A market approach in which governments grant tradable pollution and resource-use permits is similar to the cap-and-trade strategy.

Question 52

Adding external costs to the cost of goods and services would counter the amount people now pay for poor health, high-priced insurance, and other pollution control.

Question 53

The ____________________ principle in evaluating environmental policies states that our understanding of nature and how our actions affect nature is quite limited.

Question 54

Neoclassical, ecological, and environmental economists believe there has to be a balance between economic growth and environmental preservation.

Question 55

Oil and gas development, mining and logging are permitted in national wildlife refuges.

Question 56

A service-flow economy provides profits while greatly reducing resource use compared to a market-flow economy.

Question 57

The Environmental Wisdom Worldview contends that we are part of and totally dependent on nature, and that nature exists for all species.

Question 58

Incentive-based environmental regulation approaches uses market forces to encourage businesses to clean up pollution they have already created.

Question 59

The goods and services produced by the earth's natural processes that support all life are called ____________________.

Question 60

The focus of environmental issues shifted from easy-to-see smokestacks and solid waste to long-term, invisible pollution problems; which make strong environmental regulations difficult to implement.

Question 61

Briefly describe why environmental security is an important as military and economic security in government policy making.

Question 62

Why are more companies embracing environmental regulations?

Question 63

Environmental ____________________ defines what a person believes is right and wrong in their behavior toward the environment.

Question 64

Critics call the movement of employees between regulatory agencies and the industries they regulate the "____________________" regulatory system.

Question 65

How do the views of ecological economists differ from those of neoclassical economists?

Question 66

Food production, transportation, home energy use and resource use have major impacts on the environment. Give two examples of how you can reduce your environmental impact for each activity.

Question 67

The ____________________ principle in evaluating environmental policies states that we should make decisions that help to prevent a problem from occurring or becoming worse.

Question 68

Critical Thinking

In the accompanying figure, the U.S. spends slightly more on dog food than it would cost to do what?

Question 69

The ____________________ principle states that environmental policy should ensure that no group of people will bear an unfair share of the burden created by environmental degradation or the execution of environmental laws.

Question 70

Critical Thinking

In the accompanying figure, which U.S. expenditure in 2008 is equal to the amount of money needed to protect tropical forests?

Question 71

Full-cost pricing could potentially mitigate many of the detrimental impacts associated with resource waste, pollution and other environmental problems. Why isn't full-cost pricing widely used? What could be done to overcome these problems?

Question 72

Identify and describe three principles that can be used to guide environmental policy makers as they craft guidelines that minimize environmental harm.

Question 73

Write in the table what sustainability shifts from the current emphasis will be necessary to start a sustainability revolution? For example, a shift to climate stabilization is necessary to shift emphasis from climate disruption.Current Emphasis
Sustainability Emphasis
Fossil fuels
a)Energy waste
b)Waste disposal and pollution control
c)Consume and throwaway
d)Population growth
e)Climate disruption
f) climate stabilization

Question 74

The ____________________ principle in evaluating environmental policies states that we should try not to make any decisions that cannot be reversed later if necessary.

Question 75

Critical Thinking

In the accompanying figure, how much is the combined expenditure per year needed to eliminate hunger and malnutrition, and restore fisheries? This amount is equal to the sum of which two U.S. expenditures in 2008?