Economic Rockstar

034: David Simon on Meatonomics and How the Meat and Dairy Industry Impose Substantial Negative Externalities on Society

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David Robinson Simon is a lawyer and advocate for sustainable consumption.

David works as general counsel for a healthcare company and serves on the board of the Animal Protection and Rescue League Fund, a non-profit dedicated to protecting animals.

David runs a website that keeps us up-to-date on matters arising from the farm animal industry as well as informing us of other animal-related causes.

David received his B.A. from U.C. Berkeley and his J.D. from the University of Southern California. He is the author of two books: New Millennium Law Dictionary, a full-length legal dictionary and Meatonomics. 

He lives in Southern California with his partner, artist Tania Marie, and their rabbit, tortoise, and two cats.

Find Out:
  • why David, a lawyer, turned to economics to explain how the meat industry is a cost to society.
    • about the lack of rights that exist for farm animals.
      • how the farming community set the standards on how farm animals are treated.
        • how the Customary Farming Extension was introduced to legally treat farm animals inhumanely.
          • about the environmental costs associated with producing animal products.
            • how to control or even reverse climate change by reducing meat consumption.
              • how taking shorter showers is not going to alleviate the drought in California.
                • what the true external cost to society is when someone consumes an animal product.
                  • how deferring climate change measures today will impose greater costs on society in the future.
                    • what David, who is a vegan, had for breakfast this morning.
                      • the ingredients to David’s ‘power smoothie’ - a refreshing and nutrient dense meal in a glass!
                        • how companies are being subsidised by government to lower the retail price of meat.
                          • about the heavy subsidies being paid out to the meat industry.
                            • how artificially-low meat and dairy prices are fuelled by out-of-whack farm subsidies.

                              •  

                              • about Ireland’s removal of milk quotas and what it means for market prices.
                                • and much, much more.
                                  • Check out the shownotes page to this episode at www.economicrockstar.com/davidsimon
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