Choosing Environmental Policy

by Harrington, Winston

• ISBN13: 9781891853883
• ISBN10: 1891853880
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-30
• Publisher: ROUTLEDGE

Summary

The two distinct approaches to environmental policy include direct regulation-sometimes called 'œcommand and control' policies-and regulation by economic, or market-based incentives. This book is the first to compare the costs and outcomes of these approaches by examining realworld applications. In a unique format, paired case studies from the United States and Europe contrast direct regulation on one side of the Atlantic with an incentivebased policy on the other. For example, Germany's direct regulation of SO2 emissions is compared with an incentive approach in the U.S. Direct regulation of water pollution via the U.S. Clean Water Act is contrasted with Holland's incentive-based fee system. Additional studies contrast solutions for eliminating leaded gasoline and reducing nitrogen oxide emissions, CFCs, and chlorinated solvents. The cases presented in Choosing Environmental Policy were selected to allow the sharpest, most direct comparisons of direct regulation and incentive-based strategies. In practice, environmental policy is often a mix of both types of instruments. This innovative investigation will interest scholars, students, and policymakers who want more precise information as to what kind of 'blend' will yield the most effective policy. Are incentive instruments more efficient than regulatory ones? Do regulatory policies necessarily have higher administrative costs? Are incentive policies more difficult to monitor? Are firms more likely to oppose market-based instruments or traditional regulation? These are some of the important questions the authors address, often with surprising results.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Overview: Comparing Instrument Choices	1	(205)
Winston Harrington, Richard D. Morgenstern and Thomas Sterner
1. SO2 Emissions in Germany: Regulations to Fight Waldsterben	23	(18)
Frank Wätzold
2. SO2 Cap-and-Trade Program in the United States: A "Living Legend" of Market Effectiveness	41	(26)
Dallas Burtraw and Karen Palmer
3. Industrial Water Pollution in the United States: Direct Regulation or Market Incentive?	67	(24)
Winston Harrington
4. Industrial Water Pollution in the Netherlands: A Fee-based Approach	91	(26)
Hans Th. A. Bressers and Kris R.D. Lulofs
5. NOx Emissions in France and Sweden: Advanced Fee Schemes versus Regulation	117	(16)
Katrin Millock and Thomas Sterner
6. NOx Emissions in the United States: A Potpourri of Policies	133	(25)
Dallas Burtraw and David A. Evans
7. CFCs:A Look Across Two Continents	158	(17)
James K. Hammitt
8. Leaded Gasoline in the United States: The Breakthrough of Permit Trading	175	(17)
Richard G. Newell and Kristian Rogers
9. Leaded Gasoline in Europe: Differences in Timing and Taxes	192	(14)
Henrik Hammar and Åsa Löfgren
10. Trichloroethylene in Europe: Ban versus Tax	206	(16)
Thomas Sterner
11. Trichloroethylene in the United States: Embracing Market-Based Approaches?	222	(18)
Miranda Loh and Richard D. Morgenstern
12. Lessons from the Case Studies	240	(31)
Winston Harrington, Richard D. Morgenstern, Thomas Sterner, and J. Clarence (Terry) Davies
Index	271