Solutions for the World's Biggest Problems: Costs and Benefits

Cambridge University Press, 10/18/2007
EAN 9780521887724, ISBN10: 0521887720

Hardcover, 462 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 3 cm
Language: English

The world has many pressing problems. Thanks to the efforts of governments, NGOs, and individual activists there is no shortage of ideas for resolving them. However, even if all governments were willing to spend more money on solving the problems, we cannot do it all at once. We have to prioritize; and in order to do this we need a better sense of the costs and benefits of each 'solution'. This book offers a rigorous overview of twenty-three of the world's biggest problems relating to the environment, governance, economics, and health and population. Leading economists provide a short survey of the analysis and sketch out policy solutions for which they provide cost-benefit ratios. A unique feature is the provision of freely downloadable software which allows readers to make their own cost-benefit calculations for spending money to make the world a better place.

List of figures
List of tables
1. Introduction Bjørn Lomborg
Part I. Economy
2. Financial instability Peter Blair Henry
3. Lack of intellectual property rights Keith E. Maskus
4. Money laundering Donato Masciandaro
5. Subsidies and trade barriers Kym Anderson
Part II. Environment
6. Air pollution Guy Hutton
7. Climate change Gary Yohe
8. Deforestation Henk Folmer and G. Cornelis van Kooten
9. Land degradation Ian Coxhead and Ragnar Oygard
10. Loss of biodiversity Dan Biller
11. Vulnerability to natural disasters Roger A. Pielke
Part III. Governance
12. Arms proliferation Paul Dunne
13. Conflicts Paul Collier
14. Corruption Susan Rose-Ackerman
15. Lack of education Peter Orazem
16. Terrorism Daniel Linotte
Part IV. Health and Population
17. Drugs Jefrey A. Miron
18. Diseases Dean Jamison
19. Lack of people of working age Robert E. Wright and Katerina Lisenkova
20. Living conditions of children Harry Anthony Patrinos
21. Living conditions of women Brinda Viswanathan
22. Malnutrition/hunger Jere R. Behrman, Harold Alderman and John Hoddinott
23. Unsafe water and lack of sanitation Guy Hutton
24. Population
migration Michael J. Greenwood
Index.