Are the Grandkids Worth the Money?

Any society can be judged by how much it cares for future generations - by preserving a record of history and also conserving resources and the environment. Some public spending reflects regard for future generations, and writing for the New York Times, Eduardo Porto poses the question: How much should the world sacrifice today to abate future costs of climate change? Much of modern society shrugs about scientific reports on future problems, refusing to conserve natural resources while accruing public debt to live for today. Some economists express confidence that future generations will be wealthier – but most researchers limit their measures to currencies and not forests, wildlife or clean water. The same economists count on future advanced technology to solve problems, yet live in societies raising children who dismiss careers in science and math as boring. Some bold action, some steps to conserve resources, may slow the accumulation of wealth, yet certainly won’t cause great harm to either pocketbooks or the environment. – YaleGlobal