ECO: Module Five Case Study Guidelines

Overview: The case studies in this course are designed to actively involve you in environmental economics reasoning and to help you apply the course principles to complex real-world situations. In the case studies, you will use data analysis to make informed recommendations and communicate in a professional manner.

The Module Five Case Study examines decentralized policies through strategies discussed in this course. In your submission, you will demonstrate the following skills:

1. Research and analyze a voluntary pollution-control program or voluntary environmental program.

2. Discuss the program's most effective approach in terms of moral suasion or informal community pressure.

3. Argue against the approaches taken by other programs.

4. Describe the data needed for your program to be effective and how the data will be collected.

5. Summarize your program's approach with conclusions and recommendations to influence policy makers and other constituents in the community.

Prompt: The objective of this case study is to research and select a voluntary pollution-control program or voluntary environmental program (VEP) and describe the program's most effective approach based on those provided in Chapter 10 of the textbook. The analysis and recommendations you provide will influence policy makers and community members who will support the implementation of your program. You must take the steps listed below to complete this case study.

• Step 1

Describe an environmental problem and analyze a voluntary pollution-control program or voluntary environmental program (VEP) that can be used to control the problem. The textbook provides some examples of voluntary pollution-control programs in Chapter 10, or use the Shapiro Library.

• Step 2

Discuss the program's most effective approach in terms of moral suasion or informal community pressure (programs that encourage but do not require environmentally friendly process changes). Use the framework described in Chapter 10 of the textbook, the companion website for the course textbook, or sources found in the Shapiro Library to argue for the effective approach to this type of VEP.

• Step 3

In your paper, make an effective argument against other types of program approaches. Use this section of your paper to demonstrate your understanding of the different approaches, and make an argument for why the other approaches are not recommended.

• Step 4

Explain the data you will need to demonstrate the effectiveness of your program. To extend the value of this analysis, explain precise data and provide examples from relevant sources. More information on this approach is found on the companion website for the course textbook (relevant pages for Chapter 10).

• Step 5

Remember that the objective is to argue for the implementation of your VEP and provide a rationale for why your approach is the most effective. Make recommendations that will influence policy makers and community members to implement your program.