Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean  Now, I think there are ways that orthodox, capitalistic society can be run without the pollution of big businnesses. |
It is this which I struggle with. I come from a background where pollution is just seen as an external cost ignored by the producer. Thus, simple regulation can be applied where that externality is internalised (e.g. tax to reduce production and therefore pollution costs). It is not necessary to see big business as a problem. Indeed, one could argue that- per unit produced- they will be less of a problem as they can benefit more from a "green dividend" (i.e. use green investments to impress the consumer and therefore increase demand).
The Green approach is quite different. It becomes difficult to refer to the use of simple regulation. It is no longer good enough to refer to externalities. Instead, the analysis becomes a dynamic analysis into how unsustainable development dominates capitalism. Regulating big business surely then has to be replaced with eliminating big business?