As a result of these programs, ranchers in the Yellowstone area are more likely to
support efforts to maintain the wolves as part of Yellowstone Park’s ecosystem. The
programs treat preservation as a public good, one that is supported by money
contributed by people who benefit from preservation. The organization has collected
contributions from thousands of people despite the free-rider problem. The success of
Defenders of Wildlife illustrates one of the key principles of economics.
SOURCE: Terry L. Anderson, “A Carrot to Save the Wolf,” The Margin, Spring 1992,
p. 28.
Recall the application on “Paying Landowners to Host Wolves.” Wolves in the west:
A) by their existence provide some people with a benefit.
B) impose private costs on owners of livestock.
C) can be preserved with voluntary exchange.
D) all of the above
A carbon tax placed on coal will:
A) shift the supply curve for coal to the right.
B) shift the supply curve for coal to the left.
C) not affect the supply curve for coal.
D) decrease the demand for coal.