Environmental Laws vs. Economic Freedom

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Sustainability

Vega-Gordilio and Alvarez-Arce (2003) states economic freedoms exist in the following conditions; property acquired without the use of force, fraud, or theft is protected from physical invasions by others. Economic freedoms exist when individuals are free to use, exchange, or give their property to another as long as their actions do not violate the identical rights of others (Vega-Gordilio & Alvarez-Arce, 2003). Environmental laws are established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who works with state, federal, and other government agencies to issue limitations on individuals and organizations in order to protect the environment, endangered species, and others from harm (Coons, 2009).

The United States is a capitalistic society and has the highest gross domestic products ranking amongst developed countries (World Bank, 2010). The citizens are assured the right (freedom) to manufacture, trade, and/or/obtain consumer goods and services as long as their activities are legal. An example of illegal capitalism would be the production and growth of marijuana to be used for illegal sales.

The United States is a highly individualistic society in comparison with other countries. As such, this is a society that has loose attachments with others; are self-reliant; operate with an individualistic attitude and look out for oneself and close family members. Individualistic cultures like U.S.A. are more self-centered and emphasize mostly on their individual goals (Itim International, n.d.). An individual’s goals implies that unless there is some kind of restraint placed upon such societies, greater production and un-mindful use of resources and profit will continue, regardless of the impact upon the environm...

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...oing green pays off. USA Today. Retrieved from

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2008-05-20-green-

companies_N.htm

Meyer, S.M. (2002). The Economic Impact of Environmental Regulations. Retrieved from

http://web.mit.edu/polisci/mpepp/Reports/eier.pdf

Özler, S., & Obach, B. (2009). Capitalism, state economic policy and ecological footprint: An

international comparative analysis. Global Environmental Politics, 9(1), 79-108

9(1), 79-108. Retrieved from doi:10.1162/glep.2009.9.1.79

Smith, F.L., Jr & Jeffreys, K. (n.d.). A free-market environmental vision. Retrieved from

http://www.cato.org/pubs/chapters/marlib23.html

Vega-Gordilio, M. & Alvarez-Arce, J. (2003). Economic growth and freedom: A causality study.

Cato Journal, 23(2), 199-215. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.edmc. edu/docview/195592990?accountid=34899

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