Question

In the scientific study The Benefits of the Clean Air Act, 1970 to 1990, the EPA determined that the Clean Air Act provided health, social, ecological, and economic benefits 42 times greater than its costs. In 2010 alone, estimated benefits exceeded costs at a ratio of 4 to 1. After reading this section (or doing research online if you do not have the book yet) answer the following questions:

1. In your opinion, why is the public generally unaware of these details?
2. What do you think are the difficulties with informing the public?

Answer 1

1. The public is generally unaware of this because such knowledge is usually only possessed by researchers and policymakers. Often, there is so much research going on at any given time that the general public cannot follow all of it. Moreover, such research is sometimes not publicized or popularized.

2. There are several difficulties when it comes to informing the public. For example, researchers often do not have the resources to popularize their research and make it known to the general public. Moreover, studies that do not support a particular political perspective might not be easily accepted by certain political groups.