Deck 2: The Economy and the Environment

Question 1

It is more difficult to develop and administer control policies for point source pollutants than it is for nonpoint source pollutants.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

In the phrase "natural capital," the word "capital" captures the economic concept that nature is ________.

A)a store of value
B)capable of producing goods and services
C)depletable over time
D)all of the choices are correct

Answer 2

D

Question 3

When a new production technology is invented that results in production of smaller amounts of residuals per unit of output produced,this is called reducing the ________.

A)damages from production
B)intensity of pollution
C)residuals from production
D)residuals intensity of production

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Discuss why using a Zero Population Growth (ZPG)strategy to reduce output and/or to halt the rate of growth of output does not guarantee that the environmental impacts of production will be controlled.

Question 5

Land is one of the three components that comprise natural capital.List the other two components discussed in the textbook and give one example of each.

Question 6

The stock of natural and environmental resources that sustain ecosystems,the economy and the well-being of individuals is referred to as ________.

A)renewable resources
B)biological diversity
C)ambient quality
D)natural capital

Question 7

List one example each of a local,regional and global pollutant.

Question 8

Define the terms "renewable resource" and "non-renewable resource" and give one example of each type.

Question 9

As long as the capacity of the earth's atmosphere to absorb emissions of CO₂ is not exceeded,CO₂ is a(n)________ pollutant.Once the capacity of the atmosphere to absorb CO₂ is exceeded,it becomes a(n)________ pollutant.

A)episodic;continuous
B)non-accumulative;accumulative
C)regional;global
D)accumulative;non-accumulative

Question 10

The trade-off that exists between harvesting as much as possible of a renewable resource today versus waiting for the future exemplifies the ________ of many natural resource management issues.

A)sustainability
B)intertemporal dimension
C)short-run impact
D)efficiency

Question 11

Mineral stocks,fisheries and water are all examples of ________.

A)renewable resources
B)non-renewable resources
C)natural resource capital
D)environmental capital

Question 12

Low-phosphate detergents,mercury-free thermometers and energy-efficient appliances are all examples of ________.

A)pollution-intensive goods
B)low-carbon goods
C)environmentally friendly goods
D)pollution-free goods

Question 13

A living resource can become non-renewable if the rate of harvest exceeds the growth rate of the resource's stock.

Question 14

Continued extraction of a non-renewable resource can be sustainable over time if managed properly.

Question 15

An accidental oil spill is an example of a(n)________ emission while municipal treated waste is an example of a(n)________ emission.

A)continuous;episodic
B)global;local
C)point source;nonpoint source
D)episodic;continuous

Question 16

The residuals from production can be reduced by ________.

A)shifting the composition of output towards low-residual items
B)preventing pollution by reducing the energy inputs required to produce each unit of output
C)reducing the residuals intensity of production
D)all of the choices are correct