Econ 4545: Environmental Economics
Readings Available Online:
Some basic readings on Efficiency, Equity, Society, and Market Failures
The Ethicist: A Dog's Death; Randy Cohen, NYY, September 25, 2005 - who is a member of society?
Ax murdering and washing your hands after using the toilet
For a common-sense economist A Nobel - and an impact on the Law (Ron Coase), NYT 1991
Cheapest protection fo nature may lie in taxes, Peter Passell, NYT, November 24, 1992
Unlikely Alliances Attack Property Rights Measures, Timothy Egan, NYT, May 15, 1995
Finding yourself packing it on? Blame friends, Gina Kolata, NYT, July 26, 2007
Without Magic Santa Would Need 12 Million Employees, Chana Joffe-Walt, NPR, December 19, 2012.
Matthew Malady, NYT, May 31, 2013, Want to Save Civilization? Get in Line
Should you fear the pizzly bear? NYT August 14, 2014, Moises Velasquez-Manoff
Production, Consumption and the environment
Lecture on Materials Balance -E.R.Morey -.wav file
Earth as a space ship, Kenneth Boulding, 1965 for other stuff by Boulding see http://www.colorado.edu/econ/Kenneth.Boulding/
Pearce and Turner Chapter 2: The Circular Economy
NPR: New antismog restrictions will increase global warming, 01/25/2010, audio at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122626662&ps=rs
Some Readings on NonMarket Valuation
They Exist. Therefore They Are. But, Do You Care? NYT October 19, 1999
Pollings Dirty Little Secret: No Response, NYT November 21, 1999
Valuing and Preserving Site-Specific Cultural Resources in Italy: Some of the Issues Nov 7, 2001.
Bush Offers Taxpayers another $300 if we go to war (The Onion March 6-12, 2003): estimating wta
Global Warming In Tietenberg global warming is discussed in Chapter 16? Discounting and present value are discussed on pages 25-30 and 55-56)
There are many articles out there about global warming. For the most recent ones in the NYTimes go to the NYTimes web site and seach under "global warming" or -"global warming" and "economics". The NYTimes has a whole archive on global warming. Do not limit the search to today's paper, and make sure you are searching the "site" rather than the site of one of their advertisers (e.g. Barnes and Noble). Some of the articles listed below are quite old. I am keeping them here so you can get a historical sense of how thinking about GW has changed over the last 20 years, and how the politics of it has changed--the politics of GW has drastically changed.
Some of the interesting articles I found at the NYT and other places include:
Q. and A.: Ann E. Carlson and Alex Wang on the U.S.-China Climate Accord, Edward Wong, NYT Nov 2014. (A legal and political take on the accord)
U.S. and China reach climate accord after months of talks, NYT Mark Landler, Nov 11, 2014.
A carbon tax could bolster green energy, Eduardo Porter, NYT Nov 18, 2014.
Climate Trades (The Financial Page), James Surowieki, The New Yorker Oct. 13 2014 (about GW, the Coase Theorem and "payments for eco-system services")
The end of snow, Porter Fox, NYT, Feb 7, 2014
Climate change study finds that the U.S. is already widely affected, Justin Gills, NYT May 6, 2014
Unavoidable answer to climate change, Eduardo Porter, NYT, Nov 19, 2013
Considering a U.S. carbon tax: fequently asked questions, Resources for the Future, Dec. 2012.
Counting the cost of fixing the future, Eduardo Porter, NYT, September 10, 2013
A NY Times interactive graphic on how much many U.S. cities will be flooded by different amounts sea level rise (one minimum predicted longrun amount is five feet-in a 100-300 years, Wow)
In poll many link weather extremes to climate change, Justin Gillis, NYT, April 17, 2012
With death of forests, loss of key climate protectors, Justin Gillis, NYT, October 1, 2011
The Civil Heretic, Nicholas Dawidoff, NYT, March 29, 2009 (An article about Freeman Dyson, a noted scientist and rare sceptic about global warming)
Among climate scientists, a dispute over "tipping points." Andrew Revkin, NYT, March 29, 2009
The Cost of Combating Global Warming, Thomas Schelling, Foreign Affairs, Nov-Dec 1997
Blair Outlines Plans to Slash Emissions Over 50 Years, NYT, Feb 25, 2003
7 States to Sue E.P.A. Over Standards on Air Pollution, NYT Feb 21, 2003
Can Global Warming Be Studied Too Much? NYT Dec 3, 2002
McCain and Lieberman Offer Bill to Require Cuts in Gases, NYT Jan 9, 2003
As the Earth Warms, Will Companies Pay? NYT August 18,2002
The Selling of an Energy Policy By AL GORE, NYT April 21, 2002
Bush Offers Plan for Voluntary Measures to Limit Gas Emissions, NYT Feb 15, 2003
Bush Plan Expected To Slow, Not Halt, Gas Emission Rise, NYT Feb 2002, Feb 16, 2003
Clinton's November 11, 2000 webcast address on global warming
Clinton Seeks to Regulate Common Gas to Clean Air -NYT Nov 12, 2000
Canada's 'Gentle Giants' Await Vanishing Winter-NYT Nov 12, 2000
US Signs Pact to Reduce Gases tied to Warming - NYT Nov 13, 1998
How fast to cut back: two view - NYT Nov, 28 1997 - this article quotes economists
Who Cares About a Few Degrees - NYT Nov 27, 1997
Experts on Climate Change Ponder: How Urgent is It? -NTY September 9, 1997
Cushioning the Shock of Global Warming - NYT Nov 30,1997
Clinton and Global Warming: Struggling to Scare a Contented World - NYT September 28, 1997
Coal Nightmares, Electical Dreams - NYT Nov. 28, 1997
Some Readings on Discounting and Present Value (in addition see Tietenberg -check the index for the appropriate pages)
check out discounting, present value and interest rates in you math econ text
Counting the cost of fixing the future, Eduardo Porter, NYT, September 10, 2013
Time and Money: Discounting's Problematic Allure by Paul Portney, Resources, Summer 1999.
Some readings on Mobile Source Pollution
Why gas prices are out of any president's control, Richard Thaler, NYT, March 31, 2012
Go Ahead and Drive Less, if you can: Danny Hakim and Jeremy Peters, NYT, Sept 25, 2005
Cheapest protection fo nature may lie in taxes, Peter Passell, NYT, November 24, 1992
Pump Pressure: Why the gas tax won't budge: James Surowiecki, The New Yorker, Sept 9, 2005
James Surowiecki discussing increasing the gas tax on NPR - this is an audio file .mp3
Color them Green (or Greedy) NYT March 9, 03)
Is gasoline undertaxed in the United States? Ian Parry, Resources ,Summer 2002 #148
Approval of Snowmobiles Contradicts Park Service Study, NYT Jan 31, 2003
Carmakers and Environmentalists Differ Over Fuel Cell Proposal, NYT Jan 30, 2003
Auto Emission Rules May be Toughened (NYT April 14, 99)
Auto Makers See Nothing but Trouble in Warmer World - NYT Oct. 16, 1997
Planting the Seeds for a Crop of Lean Green Machines - NYT March 15, 1998
U.S. Splurging On Energy After Falling of Diet - NYT Oct. 22, 1998
The Price is Right for Fuel Efficiency to Fall - NYT Oct 26, 1996
Uncle Sam vs Smog Monsters - Muscle Car Review, Feb/Mar 1996
Crackdown on Pollution by Vehicles -NYT May 2, 1999
There are many articles out there auto emissions. For the most recent ones in the NYTimes go to the NYTimes web site and seach under "auto emissions" or "emissions". Do not limit the search to today's paper, and make sure you are searching the "site" rather than the site of one of their advertisers (e.g. Barnes and Noble)
Readings on Roads (a static common-property resource) and Traffic Congestion Tolls
The Day the Traffic Disappeared, NYT April 20, 2003
Planners Say Tolls Will Ease Jams in 8 Cities, NYT Feb 26, 2003
In Colorado, Traffic on the Interstate Is at a Peak, By Kirk Johnson, NYT, Sept 19,2004
Should I-70 west of Denver be a toll road? Edward Morey, revised Oct 4, 2005
Static common property problems: parks
For other recent articles in the NYTimes go to the NYTimes web site and seach under terms such as "national parks", "Yellowstone", "traffic", and "congestion". Do not limit the search to today's paper, and make sure you are searching the "site" rather than the site of one of their advertisers (e.g. Barnes and Noble). If you choose to purchase an article from the NYT Archives it will cost a couple of bucks, it will cost a couple of bucks, articles from today's paper can be downloaded for free.
Priorities in the National Parks: NYT July 26, 1999
National Parks: Crowed Now, and Crowed Then: NYT August 14, 1999
Bargain Travelers Trample National Parks: NYT July 27, 1999
A Move to Rid Parks of Snowmobiles: NYT February 7, 1999
Latest threat to Yellowstone: admirers are loving it to death, William Steven, NYT, Sept 13, 1995
Recreational fishing, hunting, and the CP problem
A Slaughter of Cormorants in Angler Country: NYT August 1, 1998.
Ranch Hunting: One Person's Sport, Another's Slaughter; Business Grows, So Does Opposition
Web sites for "game ranches": http://www.777ranch.com , http://www.luckystarranch.com
Extinction: economic issues
For other recent articles in the NYTimes go to the NYTimes web site and seach under terms such as "extinction", "salmon", "linx", etc. Do not limit the search to today's paper, and make sure you are searching the "site" rather than the site of one of their advertisers (e.g. Barnes and Noble). If you choose to purchase an article from the NYT Archives it will cost a couple of bucks, it will cost a couple of bucks, articles from today's paper can be downloaded for free.
The endagered species act gets a makeover: NYT June 2, 1998.
Preserving natural environments
Rare Alliance in the Rockies Strives to Save Open Space: NYT August 14, 1998
U.S. Hopes to Buy Picture-Perfect Slice of the West: NYT August 25, 1998
Victims of War: The Jungle Gorillas and Tourism: NYT March 31, 1999
Additional Readings on Marketable Permits
The Tradable Permits Approach to Protecting the Commons: What have we learned? -Tom Tietenberg
What is Conservation?
What is Conservation?: Herfindahl in Three Studies in Mineral Economics
The History of the Conservation Movement
For other recent articles on conservation the NYTimes go to the NYTimes web site and seach under "conservation". Do not limit the search to today's paper, and make sure you are searching the "site" rather than the site of one of their advertisers (e.g. Barnes and Noble). If you choose to purchase an article from the NYT Archives it will cost a couple of bucks, it will cost a couple of bucks, articles from today's paper can be downloaded for free.
"Gifford Pinchot" from Encyclopedia Britannica Online
Filmmakers study a man who studied the apes: NYT March 23, 1999
The Forest Service's New Deal: NYT Editorial Desk, February 16, 1999
Celebrating an Ecologist's Eloquence and Vision," NYT, October 19, 99
Searching for Eden; The Definition of Wilderness Is Increasingly Elusive," NYT, September 12, 99
Other Stuff
Web Sites that Dish Dirt on Polluters
Web Site Dishes Dirt on Major Polluters - NYT April 22, 1998
Chemical Scorecard This site is maintained by the Environmental Defense Fund. Use it to find out the amount of toxic pollutants in your neighborhood
EPA Envirofacts Wharehouse Homepage
Other Sites of General Interest
EPA (Environmental Proctection Agency)
The "Clean Air Act" as amended in 1990
Home page for Resources for the Future (RFF)
Home page for AERE (Association of Environmental and Resource Economists)
Greenpeace International Home page
NOAA Damage Assessment and Restoration
Link to ENVIRO-ECONOMICS
GATEWAY
Professor Kahn's webpage for his text, The Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources. It has links to a lot of other sites.
Link to Professor
Tom Tietenberg's web page
Tom is the author of the text Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. The site includes numerous links to interesting materials. .
Link to The
companion page for the text Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
This site links to a chat room were you can chat and/or post questions.
Articles Suggested by Students
Titanium mine worries the neighbors, MSNBC Sept 6, 2000 suggested by Greg Rybczynski
Controversy Grows Over Wetlands Restoration, LA Times suggested by Justin Lessner
The Rio Grande - Not Big Enough Any More suggested by Hugh Robinson
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Last Update: 11-30- 2014 visitors since October 10, 1999.