But developing countries feel no obligation to participate in the cleanup, saying 'You made this mess. Under Rich's system, industrialized countries get credits for providing financial and technical assistance to developing nations that are trying to reduce their emissions. Rich's research has given her unprecedented access to China's top scholars, many of whom represent China in negotiations on global warming, and she recently had a paper accepted by the American Economic Review, the field's leading academic journal. Rich's success is even more impressive considering she came to the United States in 1987 at the age of 32 with only a fourth-grade education. Although economic booms have clearly fueled global warming, she is excited about harnessing the power of economics to help save the environment.
Countries can work together to enhance their common interests.