In the absence of environmental laws, many people will act in their own self-interests; they will overuse natural resources and abuse the environment. If many individuals and businesses act this way, we will have a degraded environment and depleted resources. This poses a ________ for people who wish to enjoy the goods provided by nature.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The situation described in the passage is a classic example of a collective action problem, where each individual's rational self-interest leads to the degradation of the environment and depletion of resources, even though as a group they would all be better off if resources were conserved and the environment protected. This highlights the need for collective action, cooperation, and the implementation of environmental laws to address the negative externalities associated with resource use and pollution.

In the Absence of Environmental Laws, Many People Will Act