Our Spending (As Reflected in Figure 23-12), Both Governmental and Personal

question 93

Essay

Our spending (as reflected in Figure 23-12), both governmental and personal, is oriented toward stability (military), comfort (snacks, cosmetics, and dog food), influence (foreign aid). Yet environmental degradation and over-use of resources threatens all of these areas. Money spent for assistance to less-developed countries would pay a higher dividend in the long run than any of the current spending. This is especially true of foreign aid and the military. Both of these items will be significantly undermined by unstable governments who can not meet the needs of their populations because of environmental problems.
-What are the environmental implications of the fact that the gap between the rich and the poor of this world is getting larger rather than smaller?

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Definitions:

Coconuts

Tropical fruit known for its water and flesh, often used as food and in various products, representing a good in economics.

Normal Good

A good for which demand increases as consumer income rises, and decreases as consumer income falls.

Consumers Believe

Refers to the perceptions or expectations that consumers hold about a product, service, or market, which can significantly impact their purchasing decisions.

Substitute Good

A product or service that can be easily replaced with another by consumers, often because it performs a similar function.