Module 5– Material Policy - Minerals, Materials and Solid Waste
Start October 13, end October 23

Objective: Understand and be able to articulate the environmental impact of mineral production and usage in the US from an economic perspective.

Read the following chapter in An Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources.
Chapter 10 – Material Policy: Minerals, Materials and Solid Waste

Written Assignment (50 points) Date Completed ________________ Points ____
Write a 2-3 page paper on one of the following topics:
1. We have been producing gold for over 5000 years. That being the case, why haven't we run out of gold, at least from mines?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a packaging tax?
3. Does a severance tax mitigate the economic effect of the percentage depletion deduction for metallic mineral production?
4. In the United States, do we really have a solid waste disposal problem?

Email the assignment to me and post it or a summary in the appropriate Module 5 discussion topic.

Discussion I (25 points) Date Completed ________________ Points ____
Critique the arguments made in one of the papers. (Could be your own.)

Discussion II (25 points) Date Completed ________________ Points ____
Critique or defend the economic arguments made in one of the other papers.

Total points for Module 5 (100 possible) Your point total ____