‘Discounting’ the future cost of climate change

Economists develop new methods to quantify the trade-off between spending now and spending later

To figure out how much we should spend fighting climate change, economists have some questions for you: How much would you be willing to spend now to make your child $100 richer in the future? What about your grandchild in the farther future, or your great-great-great-great-great-grandchild in the very distant future?

The health of the planet may hinge on the answers.