Sustainability Vega-Gordilio and Alvarez-Arce (2003) state that economic freedoms exist under the following conditions; property acquired without the use of force, fraud, or theft is protected from physical invasion by others. Economic freedoms exist when individuals are free to use, exchange, or give away their property to another as long as their actions do not violate the identical rights of others (Vega-Gordilio and Alvarez-Arce, 2003). Environmental laws are established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which works with state, federal, and other government agencies to impose restrictions on individuals and organizations to protect the environment, endangered species, and others from harm ( Coons, 2009). The United States is a capitalist society and has the highest gross domestic product among developed countries (World Bank, 2010). Citizens are guaranteed the right (freedom) to produce, trade and/or/obtain consumer goods and services as long as their activities are legal. An example of illegal capitalism would be the production and cultivation of marijuana to be used for illegal sale. The United States is a highly individualistic society compared to other countries. As such, this is a society that has loose ties to others; they are self-sufficient; operate with an individualistic attitude and take care of yourself and your immediate family. Individualistic cultures such as America are more self-centered and emphasize one's individual goals above all (Itim International, n.d.). An individual's goals imply that unless some kind of limit is imposed on such corporations, increased production and unthinking use of resources and profits will continue, regardless of the impact on the environment... half of paper ... ...being green pays off. United States today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2008-05-20-green-companies_N.htm Meyer, S. M. (2002). The economic impact of environmental regulations. Retrieved from http://web.mit.edu/polisci/mpepp/Reports/eier.pdfÖzler, S., & Obach, B. (2009). Capitalism, state economic policy and the ecological footprint: an international comparative analysis. Global Environmental Policy, 9(1), 79-1089(1), 79-108. Retrieved from doi:10.1162/glep.2009.9.1.79Smith, F.L., Jr, & Jeffreys, K. (n.d.). An environmental vision of the free market. Retrieved from http://www.cato.org/pubs/chapters/marlib23.htmlVega-Gordilio, M. & Alvarez-Arce, J. (2003). Economic growth and freedom: A causal study.Cato Journal, 23(2), 199-215. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.edmc. edu/docview/195592990?accountid=34899