Business
Economics
Environmental Economics
The following case is reproduced from pages 229-230 of Hill, Just Business.
Calcutta Industries (CI) operates an incinerator in western Texas. It is the second-largest employer in the area. When built, the incinerator was several miles from the nearest town. However, urban sprawl has pushed the boundaries of two towns to within three mi
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Business
Economics
Environmental Economics
The following case is reproduced from pages 229-230 of Hill, Just Business.
Calcutta Industries (CI) operates an incinerator in western Texas. It is the second-largest employer in the area. When built, the incinerator was several miles from the nearest town. However, urban sprawl has pushed the boundaries of two towns to within three miles of the plant. A local elementary school, several daycare centers and a nursing home are within five miles. On certain days, when the wind blows in their direction, kids and seniors are impacted by incinerator waste. CI has worked diligently over the past two decades to greatly reduce the amount of mercury and other heavy metal emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared that these metals can cause health risks such as birth defects, asthma, and Alzheimer's disease.
The Environmental Council of Texas, a non-profit organization, wants to shut the incinerator down. It recently commissioned a study to weigh the benefits and costs of the incinerator. The research indicated the following:
Benefits
Amount
Jobs
3,450,600
Additional economic benefit
5,325,500
Taxes
200,000
CI contributions to local charities
100,000
Total benefits
9,076,098
Costs
Three deaths per year, including stillborn children
3,000,000
Air and water pollution
3,500,000
Lost tourism
500,000
Other health problems created
450,000
Property damage
1,000,000
Reduction of aesthetic value and quality of life
500,000
Total costs
8,950,000
- How would the following environmental ethics evaluate this case? What recommendations would each make? Why?
- Anthropocentric
- Biocentric
- Theocentric
- What do you think should happen? (In answering this question, be sure to use appropriate critical thinking skills to evaluate the validity of the Environmental Council's cost/benefit analysis.) Why?
- As you reflect on this chapter and your past experiences with the environment, what have you learned? What conclusions can you draw?
- Describe at least one specific way in which you can apply what you have learned about the environment.
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