This is a new column by conservationist George Wuerthner. His argument is the classic economic explanation that the price of food does not reflect the full costs of production, because negative side-effects, called “externalities” by economists, are passed onto unwilling by-standers and the degredation of the natural environment.
As a result of the failure to pay for the negative externalities, “cheap food” is really pretty expensive.
America Is Paying A Steep Price For Cheap Food. Column in New West. By George Wuerthner.
