Osher Lifelong Learning Institute - Southern Oregon University

How to Use This Site

The OLLI Home Page gives general information on the course.

Each of the individual class sessions have pages with more information and resources.

Feel free to read (and comment!) on the Plain-Sense Blog - Go to Plain Sense Home

Contact Information - Doug Gentry

Email: gentryd@sou.edu

Phone: 541-261-8501

Public Goods - Common Goods - Externalities

Click the link below to see the results of the cap and trade auction completed at the end of this session. Auction Results

 

Question: When should the government act on behalf of society, even if it means interfering with private enterprise?

Even the most ardent, free market economists recognize there are times when markets fail to address social needs and costs. We will work our way through some of these situations, and wrestle with proper limits on government intervention.

Government Actions

• Bridge(s) to Nowhere/Somewhere
• Public Vaccination Programs
• Pollution Regulation
• Urban Redevelopment

Economic Concepts

We'll Cover

1. Public Goods
2. Common Goods
3. Externalities
4. Marginal Benefits and Marginal Costs
5. Solutions to Handle Externalities and Conserve Common Goods

Resources to Learn More

• Wikipedia Entry on Emissions Trading
• Scientific American - 60 Second Science Blog
• EPA Explains Cap and Trade
• Carbon Tax Folks Prefer Their Solution Over Cap and Trade
• Pigovian Tax Club - Gregory Mankiw