Case study 7

1. Summarize the case.

The case is about a valley in Brazil which it is the most polluted area on earth. All the inhabitants of the valley suffer from respiratory diseases and 10% of them are infant mortality.

Dr. Oswaldo Campos a university professor of public health discussed this issue by saying Is it true to let the poor country pay the cost of development.
In oppose, the former director of National Economic Council and a past president of Harvard University Lawrence Summers says that poor countries have to pay the cost development.
Critics object Summers for his opinion and say that it is not fair that poor countries pay the cost of development.
Other economists agree with say that sound environmental policy is important.

2. Analyze the case.

The problem in the case study is about poverty and pollution. The reason of pollution is the discharge of thousands of tons of pollutants every day , and the reason of poverty is the dirty water and inadequate sanitation

3. Answer question 2.

4. Give your stand and specify the reason on “Should or should not poor countries pay the price for pollution”?