---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the economic logic behind dumping…"
description: "\"I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to it.\" — Lawrence Summers"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/lawrence-summers-16940_behinds_i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumpin_111578.jpg"
---

#  I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic…

![“I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to it.” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/lawrence-summers-16940_behinds_i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumpin_111578.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/lawrence-summers-16940_behinds_i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumpin_111578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/lawrence-summers-16940_behinds_i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumpin_111578.jpg)

> “I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to it.”

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker cynically argues that exploiting cheap labor for toxic waste disposal is economically rational, urging acknowledgment of this harsh reality.

**In simple terms:** Dumping waste cheap is economically sound.

Key Takeaway

Economic incentives can clash with ethics.

Themes

economics environment ethics global inequality

Mood

cynical critical

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- corporate responsibility meetings
- development economics courses

Key Concepts

cost‑benefit analysis environmental justice

Practical Applications

- evaluate true costs of waste disposal
- advocate for stricter regulations

Questions to Reflect On

- How should societies weigh economic gain against environmental harm?
- What mechanisms can align profit with sustainability?

A Different Perspective

The claim ignores long‑term health and ecological costs that outweigh short‑term profit.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Toxic waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toxic-waste/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/)

## Related quotes

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [We are a democracy: there are enough checks and balances in our country, and we have an impeccable record of not contributing in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/we-are-a-democracy-there-are-enough-checks-and-balances-in-our/)

[Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/)

> [When we must pay the true price for the depletion of nature’s gifts, materials will become more precious to us, and economic logic will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/when-we-must-pay-the-true-price-for-the-depletion-of-nature-s-gifts/)

[Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/)

> [Globally, we need to make sure that markets are open... If we see that there are restrictions on free trade, then simple economic logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kersti-kaljulaid/globally-we-need-to-make-sure-that-markets-are-open-if-we-see-that/)

[Kersti Kaljulaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kersti-kaljulaid/)

> [I think it's become an economic necessity for people to be able to learn and grow throughout their lives, because most people can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesley-sullenberger/i-think-it-s-become-an-economic-necessity-for-people-to-be-able-to/)

[Chesley Sullenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesley-sullenberger/)

> [“When we think about an economic problem, the first answer that occurs to us is not always the correct one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-tirole/when-we-think-about-an-economic-problem-the-first-answer-that-occurs/)

[Jean Tirole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-tirole/)

> [In fact, a large part of what we think of as economic activity is designed to accomplish what high transaction costs would otherwise prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/in-fact-a-large-part-of-what-we-think-of-as-economic-activity-is/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [I do think economic and social anxiety is the number one issue. And I'm pretty confident Hillary Clinton will be really riding that train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-do-think-economic-and-social-anxiety-is-the-number-one-issue-and-i/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Jobs are critically important, but looking at economic change through the impact on jobs has always been a difficult way to think about economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreesen/jobs-are-critically-important-but-looking-at-economic-change-through/)

[Marc Andreesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreesen/)

> [As a former economy minister, I can't not think about economic growth. The central bank should also think about this but through its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvira-nabiullina/as-a-former-economy-minister-i-can-t-not-think-about-economic-growth/)

[Elvira Nabiullina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvira-nabiullina/)

> [In a normal time, I don't think economic policy makes a large difference one way or another. But in times of crisis it makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/in-a-normal-time-i-don-t-think-economic-policy-makes-a-large/)

[Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/)

> [I think the economic empowerment of women that has been growing over the past decade is at the 'inflection point' with this global recession.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-the-economic-empowerment-of-women-that-has-been-growing-over/)

[Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/)

> [The U.S. population, a mere four or five percent of the world total, creates half the world's toxic waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-caldicott/the-u-s-population-a-mere-four-or-five-percent-of-the-world-total/)

[Helen Caldicott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-caldicott/)

> [... for nearly 40 years, while producing the now-banned industrial coolants known as PCBs at a local factory, Monsanto Co. routinely discharged toxic waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grunwald/for-nearly-40-years-while-producing-the-now-banned-industrial/)

[Michael Grunwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grunwald/)

> [You know how gossip is. It's the toxic waste of small town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-know-how-gossip-is-it-s-the-toxic-waste-of-small-town/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

## More by Lawrence Summers

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [I promise you that there are a lot of people involved in various kinds of retail activities who think they have a crucial role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/i-promise-you-that-there-are-a-lot-of-people-involved-in-various/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [A good rule of thumb for many things in life holds that things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/a-good-rule-of-thumb-for-many-things-in-life-holds-that-things-take/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [In the history of the world, no one has ever washed a rented car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/in-the-history-of-the-world-no-one-has-ever-washed-a-rented-car/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [There are children who are working in textile businesses in Asia who would be prostitutes on the streets if they did not have those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/there-are-children-who-are-working-in-textile-businesses-in-asia-who/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [I have always thought that underpopulated countries in Africa are vastly underpolluted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/i-have-always-thought-that-underpopulated-countries-in-africa-are/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [It used to be said that when the U.S. sneezed, the world caught a cold. The opposite is equally true today. Our prosperity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/it-used-to-be-said-that-when-the-u-s-sneezed-the-world-caught-a-cold/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [But ultimately what I was impressed by during my years in government was how much the intellectual climate and the prevailing intellectual notions constrained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/but-ultimately-what-i-was-impressed-by-during-my-years-in-government/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [All taxes discourage something. Why not discourage bad things like pollution rather than good things like working?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/all-taxes-discourage-something-why-not-discourage-bad-things-like/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [The United States basically accepted protection abroad as the price of post-war recovery. Now, that these countries have caught up to our level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/the-united-states-basically-accepted-protection-abroad-as-the-price/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [One of those disturbing tendencies in academic life is that there is a desire on the part of many in the name of open-mindedness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/one-of-those-disturbing-tendencies-in-academic-life-is-that-there-is/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [As long as we keep our fundamentals strong...the dollar (and) U.S. borrowing costs will do just fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/as-long-as-we-keep-our-fundamentals-strong-the-dollar-and-u-s/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [Investment in girls' education may well be the highest-return investment available in the developing world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/investment-in-girls-education-may-well-be-the-highest-return/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [Spread the truth-the laws of economics are like the laws of engineering. One set of laws works everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/spread-the-truth-the-laws-of-economics-are-like-the-laws-of/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [Now is the time for us to strike. We must strengthen our foothold in Asia, to ensure no nation overtakes us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/now-is-the-time-for-us-to-strike-we-must-strengthen-our-foothold-in/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

[Explore all 38 Lawrence Summers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

## More Behinds quotes

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/)

[Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/)

> [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/)

[Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/)

> [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lawrence Summers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumping-a-load-of-toxic-waste-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behinds"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumping-a-load-of-toxic-waste-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/lawrence-summers-16940_behinds_i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumpin_111578.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/lawrence-summers-16940_behinds_i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumpin_111578.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/lawrence-summers-16940_behinds_i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumpin_111578.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and…” — Lawrence Summers",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Lawrence Summers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think the economic logic behind...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumping-a-load-of-toxic-waste-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumping-a-load-of-toxic-waste-in/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```