Final answer:
Economics tells us that marginal improvements often decrease and marginal costs increase as more resources are funneled into activities like preventing attacks or environmental protection. Initially, cost-effective measures provide large benefits, but as those are exhausted, more expensive measures yield lesser benefits. Finding the balance where marginal costs equal marginal benefits is essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
Economics suggests that at some point, the marginal improvements from dedicating more and more resources to preventing attacks will diminish, while the marginal costs will increase. This concept is based on the principles of marginal analysis, which is a method used to assess the benefits and costs of making small (marginal) changes in the levels of production or consumption.
When applying this to environmental protection, as the extent of environmental protection expands, the marginal costs of environmental protection tend to rise. This is because the most accessible and cost-effective measures are typically implemented first. As more stringent and less accessible measures are needed, the costs increase. Conversely, the marginal benefits of environmental protection are likely to fall. This is because the largest benefits are reaped from the initial, easy-to-implement strategies. As one progresses, the additional benefits from further protection are smaller, making them less impactful.
It's crucial to find the balance where the marginal costs match the marginal benefits. Beyond this point, additional resources invested in environmental protection might not justify the modest increases in benefits, illustrating the concept of diminishing marginal returns.