POISONED FOR PENNIES: THE ECONOMICS OF TOXICS AND PRECAUTION

Book ID/图书代码： 06745508B25429

English Summary/英文概要： “Cost-benefit analysis” is a term that is used so frequently we rarely stop to think about it. But relying on it can lead to some dubious conclusions, as Frank Ackerman points out in this eye-opening book. For example, some economists have argued that states should encourage—and even subsidize—cigarette smoking by citizens because smoking will shorten life spans and therefore reduce the need and expense of caring for the elderly. How did the economists reach that conclusion? The answer is cost-benefit analysis, Ackerman explains.

Then in clear, understandable language, he describes an alternative, precautionary approach to making decisions under uncertainty. Once a mere theory, the precautionary principle has now been applied in practice through the European Union’s REACH protocol. Citing major studies, many of which he has directed, he shows that the precautionary approach has not only worked, but has been relatively cheap.

Poisoned for Pennies shows how the misuse of cost-benefit analysis is impeding efforts to clean up and protect our environment, especially in the case of toxic chemicals. According to Ackerman, conservatives—in elected office, in state and federal regulatory agencies, and in businesses of every size—have been able to successfully argue that environmental clean-up and protection are simply too expensive. But he proves, that is untrue in case after case.

Ackerman is already well known for his carefully reasoned attacks on the conventional wisdom about the costs of environmental regulation. This new book, which finds Ackerman ranging from psychological research to risk analysis to the benefits of aggressive pesticide regulation, and from mad cow disease to lead paint, will further his reputation as a thought leader in environmental protection. We can’t afford not to listen to him.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 「成本效益分析」是目前無法避免的思考及決策的根據，但往往錯誤的引用將等導致令人意想不到的結果，曾有經濟學家認為應該鼓勵抽煙，並給予抽煙津貼，原因是抽煙將縮短人的壽命並可藉此降低老年人的保健及照顧成本。很顯然的這是個嚴重資訊誤用的例子。在本書中作者將以環保結合經濟考量的綜合觀點提供我們另一個思考的面向，如何在保有成本控制的前提下貫徹環保理念的執行。(VL)

Awards/获奖情况：

About the Author/作者介绍： Frank Ackerman is the director of the Research and Policy Program at the Global Development and the Environment Institute at Tufts University. He is the author of Why Do We Recycle? (Island Press) and Priceless: On Knowing the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing (with Lisa Heinzerling). He has conducted research for many environmental groups, including Greenpeace, Riverkeeper, and the Farmworker Justice Fund.
Frank Ackerman為波士頓塔夫斯大學Tufts University地球環境發展研究所的主任，曾發表許多環保議題重要言論，著有Why Do We Recycle?

Format:HARDCOVER

Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE

Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE

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