In conjunction with Ohio University's designation of April as Earth Month, Sustainability Coordinator Sonia Marcus takes on faculty members from across the academic spectrum, addressing some of the most controversial issues facing the environment, both locally and globally. These debates showcase the wide diversity of opinions that coexist within the community of environmental advocates.

In today's debate, Marcus and Distinguished Professor of Economics Richard Vedder discuss the environmental and economic value of local purchasing. Vedder has written extensively on various economic issues, including labor and higher education financing. In addition to authoring several books and more than 100 scholarly papers, his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Investor's Business Daily, among others. In the past, Vedder served as an economist with the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, with which he continues to provide consultation.