College of
Business
Administration
College of
Business
Administration
The Free Market, and other ramblings...
Ecotopia
1) Clearly Ecotopia is a fantasy world. What real-life implications for the bettering of our own society might we draw from this novel?
2) Is Ecotopia a Utopia? Why or why not?
3) Ecotopia relies heavily upon public policy to bring about a sustainable future. What are the implications for our own public policy discourse? Is public policy adequate to redress environmental harms?
4) Had you been in Weston's position, would you have opted to stay in Ecotopia, or leave? What factors are of most importance to you as you make this determination?
Pacific Lumber Case
1) Are the long-term interests of society at large well served by allowing corporations to use the natural environment merely as a resource in the quest for shareholder wealth maximization? Why or why not?
2) In what, if any, cases is 'ecosabotage' justified?
3) Do corporate responsibilities extend beyond short-term market considerations? If so, what are these responsibilities? How are such responsibilities to be defended?
4) Who speaks for the trees?
5) Within the context of the Pacific Lumber case, what might 'efficiency' mean?
6) Would you rather live in a society which exemplified the Pacific Lumber case pre-takeover or post-takeover? What does your answer say about your values? About how you live out your managerial life?
The Ant, the Grasshopper, and the GNP
1) How might our measure of aggregate value--the GNP--be modified to reflect environmental values?
The Peril to the Global Environment
1) On pages 123-24 the authors suggest five measures to remedy the problem of capitalism outlined in the article. Are these workable? Are they adequate?
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