Since I now have two (soon to be three) kids in elementary school, I've been looking around for materials for introducing environmental economics to school age kids. Unfortunately there doesn't appear to be a lot out there. The EPA has a large kids' section on its web-site. Of all the information, here is the extent of economics that I could find:
The 1990 Clean Air Act has many features designed to clean up air pollution as efficiently and inexpensively as possible, letting businesses make choices on the best way to reach pollution cleanup goals. These new flexible programs are called market or market-based approaches. For instance, the acid rain clean-up program offers businesses choices as to how they reach their pollution reduction goals and includes pollution allowances that can be traded, bought and sold.
The 1990 Clean Air Act provides economic incentives for cleaning up pollution. For instance, gasoline refiners can get credits if they produce cleaner gasoline than required, and they can use those credits when their gasoline doesn't quite meet clean-up requirements.
If we, as environmental economists, believe we have the right approach to environmental policy, wouldn't it make sense that we do a better job of teaching (brainwashing?) young kids the basics of economics.
Afterall, someone once said, I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.
