Lam 2013, Reply to Stan Becker

Humans Versus Nonhumans

• Lam: focus on humans
• The average human in 2013 is better off than the average human in 1960

Nonsustainable Use of Resources

• Becker: feeding extra 4 billion people = required extensive use of non-renewable resources
• Aquifers - lack of property rights
• Lam: we won’t run out of resources that have clear property rights (oil)
• Market forces
• Deforestation: solution = need institutional change

Valuing Future Generations

• Becker: concerned about future generations
• Lam: parents care
• Humans did something remarkable