Reading Assignment: Adam Smith (1776) The Wealth of Nations. p. 270-286; 307-311; 341-360; Wimberley, Edward T. and Hobbs, Bradley (2013) "The Conservative Ecologist and Free Market Environmentalism" The International Journal of Sustainability Policy and Practice. Vol. 8, p. 1-21.
Video Assignment: Episode One The Commanding Heights, The Battle of Ideas; Free Market Environmentalism Part 1; Free Market Environmentalism Part 2; Part One: Heaven on Earth: The Rise and Fall of Socialism.
Homework Assignment:
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- Go to the web and research this question: Why would corporations pollute the environment? Specifically look into whether they do so due to callous disregard for environmental consequences, to increase shareholder profitiability, because they have the long-term welfare of society in mind or because they tend to see pollution as industrial residue rather than as waste.
- Summarize the events that led to WWII and the post-war economic events that followed and on the basis of that comparison between capitalism, socialism and communism.
- Provide an overview of Wimberley and Hobbs approach to free market environmentalism.