Environment vs. Economy Options

[*Kathleen*]

All right, so since I want to see a different topic out there...this one's from February's Lincoln-Douglas topic:

Resolved: A government's obligation to protect the environment ought to take precedence over its obligation to promote economic development.

I'm on the negative side for this, seeing that only by providing a healthy, stable economy can you be able to help the environment. The products of a good economy are what help improve the environment.

Haha don't worry...I have more points...I've researched both sides to this, so bring it on.

[Spirited Away]

I disagree, the economy is not just public or private good.

The economy consists of markets, and these markets can be both private and public. The government can be considered as a market because it can sell/buy government bonds.


Privately owned, does not necessarily mean that it's a private good. Privately owned companies may produce output for the public to use (education, health care...etc).

But since we're talking about the economy as a whole, we're talking about private AND public markets combined.

If you mean that the economy is a private good because you can own it... that's not necessarily true either. An economy needs market(s), and markets mean there must a buyer and seller, you cannot just be a seller (owner) and call yourself a market. You're lacking someone to sell your goods to.

Because your privately owned company provides goods are meant to be sold to the public, they are public goods.

I'm confusing myself...