The environment v.s. the economy?

Question

Should we keep our econmy growing if the environment is suffering ????

Answer 1

A strong economy actually helps the enviroment. More effort gets put into recycling, reducing waste and improving image. Most countries that have struggling economies have atrocious enviromental laws and quality

Answer 2

It depends if the Economy is causing the environment to suffer. In a bad economy, like during the great depression, corners were cut to produce products cheaply for the masses. The smell of coal was constantly in the air in most major cities, companies dumped in Rivers becasue it was cheap. During a good economy, scrubber are bought, and waste is paid to dispose of properly. People are not focused on the next paycheck, but on issue such as a clean environment- they will afford to by a hybrid, rather than a 1979 Buick.....

Answer 3

In your question you assume that there is a direct tradeoff between protecting the environment and ensuring strong economic growth. This perspective is incorrect.
Take one easy example: the EPA and state law in California reauire that smog from vehicles be limited to a certain degree. Cars are tested, and if they fail the standard they are not allowed on the road. now clearly this is an economic cost to drivers who own non-compliant vehicles. But on the other hand look at he benefits. Not even getting into the whole global warming issue, it is evident that smog causes a number of health problems in millions of people. Asthma and a number of other breating problems result directly from smog generated by cars. Some types on cancer can also be effected by chemicals emited by vehicles. By regulating emmission the government thereby prevents the deaths and debilitating and chrnonic illness of millions of people. In light of the costs of medical care, it is more than likely that the cost saving more then offset the costs to the few people with non-compliant cars and the costs of making new cars compliant with the regulations.
Again, this is one example, but it illustrates a point. protecting the environment, whether its by requiring people/companies to recycle or having anti-dumping laws, not only provides benefits, it eliminates social costs of out economic activity. in economics costs that are external to production and sale are called externalaties. Things like pollution or the destruction of wildlife is a negative externality because society, not the producer/buyer face the costs. Envioronmental law simply seeks to account for those costs, internalizing them in the cost of production and sale of the product. The end result is often a net benefit to the economy and to society. Are there exceptions or gray lines? Sure. People who never go to a national park will claim that protecting land for animals is a waste, but that is a gray line between economic efficeny and preserving something society values higher then economic output. however in most cases, the issues of environmental harm are pretty clear cut, and the costs and benefits can be accounted for. I speculate that in the vast magority of cases, it is a net benefit to economic growth to persue environmental protection using regulation.

Answer 4

Economic growth and environmental concerns are not always directly related. For instance, a company that makes drywall will install pollution control equipment to help capture the gypsum emissions. The gypsum can be collected from the pollution control equipment and be re-introduced into the production line. So, being enviromental helps the economy.

Answer 5

If the economy stops growing you better figure out what to do with a billion or 2 people on this planet. Maybe get our leaders to start more wars, distribute pestilence to certain areas of the globe, contaminate the food or water supply with birth control agents. Use neutron bombs and start over again.
all are options.

Answer 6

what good will money do for you if you can't breath the air, drink the water, or grow food in the soil.

but...at least we will have a strong economy.

growing the economy is good, but not if it's at the expense of the environment.

Answer 7

Economic growth and environmental problems are not always directly related.

Bad economic growth tends to hurt the environment.

good Econ growth helps the environment.

Answer 8

Read "The Ecology of Commerce" by Paul Hawken.

Answer 9

no. change the environment first