Question 1

State and local governments often provide money for communities to create bike paths. These benefit many in the local community, but are often not developed without government help due to the high costs to private companies. Bike paths are an example of

Accepted Answer

Bike paths are considered public goods because they are non-excludable and non-rivalrous, meaning they are open for everyone to use without preventing others from using them, and one person's use does not reduce availability for others. Private companies may not find it profitable to build them without government support due to their nature of providing widespread benefits without the ability to directly charge users.

Question 2

Mangroves are small shrubs and trees in intercostal regions. They protect shorelines from damaging storms, winds, waves, and floods, which have been found to be important in preventing erosion. This aspect of mangroves is considered a(n)

Accepted Answer

Mangroves providing protection against natural elements and preventing erosion is an example of an ecosystem service, which refers to the benefits that humans can obtain from ecosystems.

Question 3

Which of the following would be considered a negative externality from coal-fired power plants?

Accepted Answer

Negative externalality refers to the adverse effects on third parties not involved in the activity, such as pollution or health issues. Options A, B, and C are benefits or neutral aspects, not negative externalities.

Question 4

Positive externalities and public goods are often due to the difficulty in assigning specific value.

Accepted Answer

Positive externalities and public goods are often undersupplied because it is difficult to assign a specific value to them, leading to less production and provision than is socially optimal.

Question 5

Governments create laws and regulations that specify the actions and behaviors of its citizens and organizations. These laws and regulations are called

Accepted Answer

Policies are the laws and regulations created by governments to dictate the actions and behaviors of citizens and organizations.

Question 6

If an automobile manufacturer has been shown to be engaging in unethical behaviors, one way to lead to change is through a boycott. Which of the following is an example of a boycott?

Accepted Answer

A boycott involves refusing to buy products or services from a company and often includes encouraging others to do the same to pressure the company into changing its behaviors. Option B directly describes this action.

Question 7

What is a positive externality that results from high oil prices?

Accepted Answer

High oil prices can incentivize innovation in oil extracting technologies as companies and researchers look for more efficient and cost-effective methods to extract oil. This can lead to advancements in technology and potentially more sustainable extraction methods.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of environmental policy implemented by the U.S. government?

Accepted Answer

All of these options are examples of environmental policy implemented by the U.S. government. The establishment of national parks conserves natural landscapes and wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages fish, wildlife, and natural habitats, and the Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters and sets quality standards for surface waters.

Question 9

In what ways can politics influence policy decisions?

Accepted Answer

Politics can influence policy decisions through various means, including support for candidates by interest groups, lobbying by groups to achieve their policy goals, and mobilization of public opinion by groups to sway policy decisions. All options A, B, and C are correct examples of how politics can influence policy, making D the correct choice.

Question 10

Issues such as climate change are too large for any single country to solve. Which of these has been an effective way to address issues such as global climate change?

Accepted Answer

Countries collaborating through intergovernmental organizations, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), have been effective in creating global agreements like the Paris Agreement, which aim to collectively reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

Question 11

If a government wanted to increase the use of wind power by its residents, which of the following could be implemented?

Accepted Answer

Purchasing wind turbines would directly increase the capacity for wind power generation, thereby promoting its use among residents.

Question 12

What of the following is a role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in regulating pollution?

Accepted Answer

The EPA is responsible for setting minimum standards for pollutants, prioritizing hazardous waste sites for cleanup, and passing legislation on drinking water standards.

Question 13

Environmental policies can include those that manage natural resources. Which of the following actions was done by the U.S. government for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

The establishment of the first national park, Yellowstone, was an action by the U.S. government to manage and preserve natural resources, marking a significant step in environmental conservation.

Question 14

Consider the following statement: all policies on environmental health are enacted by the federal government.

Accepted Answer

States have the authority to enact and enforce environmental health policies that can be more restrictive than federal policies, allowing them to address specific local environmental health concerns.

Question 15

A state has decided to build a new interstate highway that will require the draining of a wetland. Compare how an anthropocentric and ecocentric view would differ when considering the impacts of this development.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A state has decided to build a...

Question 16

Battery packs that are used in electric vehicles have decreased in price, going from around $1,000 down to $200. As our efficiency in producing these battery packs has increased, driving prices lower, the Jevon paradox would predict an increase in our use of this technology. However, electric vehicles are only around 6% of all vehicle purchases. What other factors might have led to such a slow increase in electric vehicle sales? Do you think purchases of electric vehicles will increase in the future?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Battery packs that are used in electric...

Question 17

In the early 1900s the wild turkey population in the United States had been reduced to less than 30,000 birds. Today, however, there are over 7 million turkeys. Based on your understanding of the tragedy of the commons, what changes could have taken place to lead to this conservation success story?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the early 1900s the wild turkey...

Question 18

One proposed solution to climate change is to implement a cap-and-trade system on carbon dioxide (CO₂). Explain how this system might work and how it would lead to reduced CO₂ emissions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One proposed solution to climate change is...

Question 19

A group of students at your school has decided to start a group focused on understanding how their decisions can influence environmental policy. Discuss at least two different things from Chapter 2 that your group could do to influence policy in your community.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A group of students at your school...

Quiz 2: Ethics, Economics, and Policy: Who or What Do We Value