A sensible pollution control goal for society is to
A) eliminate pollution entirely in the long run.
B) equate the costs of pollution to the costs of pollution control.
C) allow pollution if external diseconomies are realized.
D) allow pollution if the cost of monitoring waste discharge exceeds the effluent fee.
E) minimize the sum of the costs of pollution and the costs of controlling pollution.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The goal of minimizing the sum of the costs of pollution and the costs of controlling pollution is the most sensible because it takes into account both the economic and environmental factors involved. Eliminating pollution entirely may not be feasible in the short run and could be costly, while allowing pollution if external diseconomies are realized or if the cost of monitoring waste discharge exceeds the effluent fee does not prioritize environmental concerns. Equating the costs of pollution to the costs of pollution control does consider both factors, but it assumes that the costs are equal, which may not always be the case.

A Sensible Pollution Control Goal for Society Is to