Ethics and Sustainable Development in the News

Select a recent article from The Economist published since January 1, 2026, that examines a specific policy or program related to sustainable development. The article you choose must center on a concrete decision that creates identifiable benefits and costs. In your essay, explain the policy or program and its intended goals. Then analyze it through the ethical traditions we have discussed in class. See also the articles by Kneese and Schule and by Messer (2010) that have been posted on Canvas for additional information about how economists have framed these traditions. In your essay, describe who benefits from the policy, who bears the costs, and how different ethical frameworks would evaluate those outcomes. Do some traditions justify the tradeoffs more readily than others?

Your paper should be no more than four double-spaced pages, using 12-point Times New Roman font and one-inch margins. Pages must be numbered, and citations should follow MLA format with a Works Cited page (not included in the page limit). Write in a formal academic style, avoiding first person until the final paragraph if you choose to state your own view.

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