Business and the Environment: Is There More to the Story?

Actions taken to improve the environment are frequently good for profits, but many executives, including economists, are not fully aware of just how good business's environmental record is. As a result, they often have difficulty responding to critics. This article will present three major points: 1) the environment of the United States is much improved over the past several decades, and business's pursuit of profits has been an important factor; 2) the public's information about business and the environment is poor; and 3) this faulty information fosters the impression that business is evading its responsibilities.Business Economics (2005) 40, 40–45; doi:10.2145/20050106