To hear a single-use plastic bag regulation debate, you could go to Kenya or NYC while Rwandans might be discussing their plastic bag black market.…
Environment
Environmental economics looks at the positive and negative impact of growth. Especially focusing on marginal analysis and externalities, econlife looks at our current impact on the environment and our use of natural resources in the US and beyond.
Why Flood Insurance Creates Unintended Consequences
Flooding 34 times in 32 years, a $69,000 home in Mississippi received close to $663,000 in payouts. Similarly, for 16 floods in 18 years the owners of a Houston home valued at $115,000 got $800,000. T…
When the Power of the Market Affects Commodity Prices
The results of the bet between biologist Paul Ehrlich and economist Julian Simon showed how the power of the market affects commodity prices.…
The Downside of Eating Less Steak
Giving up steak takes you to an environmental decision that involves how much cows devour and what you eat instead of beef.…
Solving a National Parks Problem
After hiking the Appalachian Trail in record time, ultra-marathon runner Scott Jurek was cheered by friends, family and a film crew. At the top of Maine’s Mount Katahdin, they popped open a bott…
The Problem With Sand
If we have a sand shortage, Olympic beach volleyball, new homes and roads, fracking, water filtration, and so much more will be affected.…
Mind Boggling Facts About U.S. Energy Use
From where we get it, to where its goes, and how much we waste, these charts illustrate all you could ever want to know about the basics of U.S. energy use.…
What State Gasoline Taxes and a LUST Fund Have in Common
A LUST Trust Fund and higher state gasoline taxes may come in handy if massive federal infrastructure spending becomes more doubtful.…
The Codfather and the Tragedy of the Commons
Although The Codfather violated New England’s catch share system, the overfishing that results from the tragedy of the commons has been minimized.…
The Honeybee and the Market
About much more than bees, the business response to colony collapse disorder demonstrates how we can adapt to environmental challenges.…