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Research Policy and Review 33. Why is More Notice not Taken of Economists' Prescriptions for the Control of Pollution?

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  • N Hanley
  • S Hallett
  • I Moffatt

Abstract

This paper is concerned with trying to explain why governments have not taken more notice of economists' suggestions with respect to pollution control policy. Four possible explanations are considered: ignorance; theoretical problems; practical problems; and institutional or cultural factors. It is concluded that economists have been too narrow in their focus on efficiency as an appropriate objective function for legislators and pressure groups, and that there are numerous problems associated with bringing in incentive-based policies for the control of pollution. However, the basic attraction of such policies—that by permitting flexibility in emission reductions across sources, cost savings are made possible-remains sufficiently strong to warrant more research attention being given to modelling such policies in specific situations.

Suggested Citation

  • N Hanley & S Hallett & I Moffatt, 1990. "Research Policy and Review 33. Why is More Notice not Taken of Economists' Prescriptions for the Control of Pollution?," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 22(11), pages 1421-1439, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:22:y:1990:i:11:p:1421-1439
    DOI: 10.1068/a221421
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Common, Michael S, 1977. " A Note on the Use of Taxes to Control Pollution," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 79(3), pages 346-349.
    2. Seskin, Eugene P. & Anderson, Robert Jr. & Reid, Robert O., 1983. "An empirical analysis of economic strategies for controlling air pollution," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 112-124, June.
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    4. Walker, Martin & Storey, D J, 1977. " The "Standards and Price" Approach to Pollution Control: Problems of Iteration," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 79(1), pages 99-109.
    5. Hahn, Robert W, 1989. "Economic Prescriptions for Environmental Problems: How the Patient Followed the Doctor's Orders," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 3(2), pages 95-114, Spring.
    6. Buchanan, James M & Tullock, Gordon, 1975. "Polluters' Profits and Political Response: Direct Controls Versus Taxes," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 65(1), pages 139-147, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. W A V Clark, 1993. "Applying our Understanding: Social Science in Government and the Marketplace," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 25(1_suppl), pages 38-47, January.
    2. Aftab, Ashar & Hanley, Nick & Baiocchi, Giovanni, 2010. "Integrated regulation of nonpoint pollution: Combining managerial controls and economic instruments under multiple environmental targets," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(1), pages 24-33, November.
    3. Whitby, Martin & Adger, Neil, "undated". "Measuring environmental impacts," Centre for Agricultural Strategy - Papers and Reports 337824, University of Reading.
    4. Lindsey, Robin & Santos, Georgina, 2020. "Addressing transportation and environmental externalities with economics: Are policy makers listening?," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    5. Lene Hjøllund & Gert Tinggaard Svendsen, 2001. "Why Green Taxation?," Energy & Environment, , vol. 12(1), pages 29-38, January.
    6. A Weale, 1999. "European Environmental Policy by Stealth: The Dysfunctionality of Functionalism?," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 17(1), pages 37-51, February.
    7. Charles Howe, 1994. "Taxesversus tradable discharge permits: A review in the light of the U.S. and European experience," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 4(2), pages 151-169, April.
    8. Clevo Wilson & Manel Jayamanna & Wasantha Athukorala, 2010. "Why do policy decision-makers opt for command and control environmental regulation? An economic analysis with special reference to Sri Lanka," School of Economics and Finance Discussion Papers and Working Papers Series 259, School of Economics and Finance, Queensland University of Technology.

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