College of Business Administration

Business Management and the Natural Environment

Discussion Questions for September 29, 1998

1) What is the relationship between overconsumption and overpopulation, if any? What are the justice implications having a small proportion of the world's population consuming the 'lion's share' of its 'natural resources'?

2) Define scarcity. How can we overcome the problem of scarcity? Is scarcity a supply-side or a demand-side problem? What are the implications of defining it in one way or another?

3) Can the market be relied upon to accurately price goods and services? Why or why not?

4) Under what conditions, and with what justification, 'ought' the government to intervene between a willing buyer and a willing seller? What are the implications of your answer for the pricing and allocation of environmental 'resources'?

5) We have talked about the notion of 'value' in previous class sessions. What alternative 'values' orientations would help relieve the problems alluded to in the previous questions?

6) How ought one to 'price' a commons?

7) What are the most difficult barriers to overcome if market pricing and allocation mechanisms are modified in order to preserve scarce environmental 'resources'? How would you suggest these barriers be overcome?

Return to Professor Dunn's home page.