State parks across the nation are serving more and more visitors while struggling to preserve natural and cultural resources. As demands for tax-generated revenues grow, many state legislatures are cutting appropriations to their park systems. Shrinking funds and growing usage threaten the well-being of all our state parks.
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The Environmental Kuznets Curve: A Primer
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT Executive Summary Since 1991, when economists first reported a systematic relationship between income changes and environmental quality, this relationship, known as the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), has become standard fare in technical conversations about environmental policy (Grossman and Krueger 1991). When first unveiled, EKCs revealed a surprising outcome: Some important indicatorsContinue reading “The Environmental Kuznets Curve: A Primer”
Fish Tales
Using economic reasoning, students solve seven mysteries surrounding the tragic reductions in fish populations.
Blast from the Past
Grain growers in Washington’s Spokane Valley traditionally burned the rubble on their fields after harvest. More recently, concern about air quality amidst the growing population is forcing many of them to give up the practice. As a result, the farmers have been left in the lurch. They still must remove the rubble, which they doContinue reading “Blast from the Past”
Alligators Go West
The high desert of southern Idaho seems an unlikely spot for fish farms and alligator ranches, but one ingenious farmer has made a success of just such an operation. Leo Ray, who studied fish farming at the University of Oklahoma, visited the area after graduation and decided it would be a near perfect location forContinue reading “Alligators Go West”
Wastewater on Sale
A tidal wave of wastewater from rapidly growing towns and suburbs is creating a headache for officials in counties north of San Francisco. Somehow, somewhere, they have to dispose of it. Small farmers who buy the water for agricultural uses have helped relieve some of the pressure. They also have eased the problem in anotherContinue reading “Wastewater on Sale”
What’s So Special About the Farm?
Why have farmers received such largesse from the federal government?
Cost-Effective Strategies for Land Trusts
Just as businesses provide goods and services, land trusts provide environmental amenities such as wildlife habitat and scenic views. And like businesses, land trusts must keep their costs in check.
Farming for the Future: Agriculture’s Next Generation
Agriculture has proven that it can feed the world. Ever-increasing yields and changing demographics have ensured the cultivation of sufficient food; only distribution remains an obstacle.
Regulation by Litigation: The Diesel Engine Episode
This paper discusses a new form of regulation. Rather than issuing rules, some government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, have started to file lawsuits.