Questions to think about

    Taylor (1999). Is free trade good for the environment?
    Economist (2002) Local difficulties
    Smith (2000). Little by little, breathing easier in Mexico City
    Summers (1991). World Bank memo

1. What is the "dirty industry migration hypothesis"?
2. What reasons does Taylor offer to argue against it?
3. According to the Economist, what are some of the major environmental problems faced by poor countries?
4. Do you agree with the following passage from the Economist: "Certainly poor countries should not be made to adopt American or European environmental standards"? Why or why not?
5. Are you surprised that the Economist reports that "much academic research has shown that the poor are more often victims than perpetrators of resource depletion: it tends to be rich locals or outsiders who are responsible for the worst exploitation." Why or why not?
6. Do you think it makes sense for "rich countries ... to pay poor countries to protect such things as their tropical forests"? Why or why not?
7. How do you think Taylor would interpret the recent developments in Mexico's pollution as reported by Smith?
8. Environmental problems fall into two categories:
       (1) strictly domestic situations such as local air and water quality; and
       (2) problems that spill over national boundaries such as acid rain and global warming.
   Do you think national or global standards should apply to category (1)? What about category (2)?
9. Consider the three reasons given by Summers to argue for more migration of "dirty industries" to lesser developed countries (LDCs). Decide whether you agree or disagree with each one, and why.