Transcript Lesson 9 - The Cost of Ignoring Economics and Geography

Lesson 9 - The Cost of Ignoring
Economics and Geography
Adapted from Middle School World Geography: Focus
on Economics
National Council on Economic Education
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
 In this lesson, students learn how geography
affects the costs of achieving environmental
goals.
 They use a map showing companies located
along a river.
 They simulate the impact of putting waste into
the river.
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
 They determine the least-costly way to
reduce this impact.
 The task is complicated by the fact that the
costs of reducing waste aren't the same for all
the companies, nor is the impact of their
waste downstream.
 The students discover that these factors can
greatly reduce the cost of achieving an
environmental goal.
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
CONCEPTS
 Geography: The physical processes of dilution and
decomposition work to reduce the impact of waste
put into the environment. Relative location is also an
important factor in the environmental impact of waste.
 Economics: Economists study the costs of achieving
an environmental goal and how these costs can be
minimized. One strategy is a governmental policy
based on economic incentives that achieve the goal
at the lowest possible cost.
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
CONCEPTS
 Geography
 Flow map
 Relative location
 Physical process
 Pollution
 Economics
 Least costly alternative
 Incentive
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
Geography
1. How to use maps and other geographic
representations, tools and technologies to
acquire, process and report information from a
spatial perspective
7. The physical processes that shape the patterns
of Earth's surface
8. The characteristics and spatial distribution of
ecosystems on Earth's surface
14. How human actions modify the physical
environment
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
Economics
4. Role of Incentives: People respond predictably to
positive and negative incentives.
16. Role of Government: There is an economic role
for government in a market economy whenever
the benefits of a government policy outweigh its
costs.
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
OBJECTIVES
The students will:
1. Construct a model of a region using a map.
2. Describe the physical processes of dilution and
decomposition.
3. Explain why the location where waste is put into a river
affects its impact down-stream.
4. Explain that there are costs associated with cleaning
up waste.
5. Determine the cost and impact of different governmental policies.
6. Describe how charges for putting waste into the
environment create an incentive for people to reduce
their waste.
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
Real Life Application
 The ongoing dispute between Oklahoma and
Arkansas regarding pollution from runoff into the
Illinois River from the large corporate chicken farms
in Arkansas.
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
 Research Opportunity


Students can search for news and journal articles
detailing the issues surrounding the phosphorous
buildup in the Illinois River in Oklahoma resulting
from the widespread application of chicken waste
to farmland in northwest Arkansas.
Students can use topographic and other maps to
show how the runoff from the farms can impact
downstream areas along the Illinois River.
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
USGS Topographic Map: Fayetteville, Arkansas
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
USGS Aerial Photograph: Fayetteville, Arkansas
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
USGS National Map: Illinois River
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
 Resources
 Oklahoma Council on Economic Education:
http://www.ocee-ok.org
 National Council on Economic Education:
http://www.ncee.net
 Econ Ed Link: http://www.econedlink.org
 United States Geological Survey Education Page:
http://education.usgs.gov
 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Newspaper:
http://www.ardemgaz.com/
 Tulsa World Newspaper: http://www.tulsaworld.com/
 The Oklahoman/News 9: http://www.newsok.com/
The Cost of Ignoring Economics and
Geography
 Resources
 Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality:
http://www.deq.state.ok.us/
 Oklahoma Rural Water Association:
http://www.okruralwater.org/
 Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality:
http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/
 US Environmental Protection Agency:
http://www.epa.gov/
For additional information, contact:
 Sue Lynn Sasser, PhD
 President, Oklahoma Council on Economic Education
 100 N. University Drive, Box 103
 Edmond, OK 73034
 405.974.5343
 [email protected]