This book provides an introduction to the positive theory of the budgetary process based on the theory of public choice. Although budgetary institutions are very diverse, both between and within countries, it is possible to identify key elements which are common to all forms of representative government. The author identifies these key elements as the supply of services by public agencies; demand for services by political bodies (cabinet, houses of parliament, etc); negotiations between administrators of agencies and political bodies in an 'internal market'; and decision-making in the form of budgetary and substantive legislation. The book develops a step-by-step model which incorporates all these elements, a model which can be used to explain and predict budgetary decisions in existing institutions, as well as to analyze institutional change, including cost budgeting and various forms of privatization.

1. Environmental policy making: an introduction.- A. Decision-Making.- 2. A spatial theoretic approach to environmental politics.- 3. Green legislative politics.- 4. Regulation or taxation.- 5. Decision making about the environment; the role of information.- B. Case-Studies.- 6. Transport policies and the environment: regulation and taxation.- 7. Road pricing: a logical failure.- 8. Dutch manure policy: the lack of economic instruments.- 9. Dutch manure policy: the role of information.- C. Institutions.- 10. The role of property rights in environmental protection.- 11. The ecological social contract.- 12. Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all.- About the authors.- Author index.

This book provides an introduction to the positive theory of the budgetary process based on the theory of public choice. Although budgetary institutions are very diverse, both between and within countries, it is possible to identify key elements which are common to all forms of representative government. The author identifies these key elements as the supply of services by public agencies; demand for services by political bodies (cabinet, houses of parliament, etc); negotiations between administrators of agencies and political bodies in an 'internal market'; and decision-making in the form of budgetary and substantive legislation. The book develops a step-by-step model which incorporates all these elements, a model which can be used to explain and predict budgetary decisions in existing institutions, as well as to analyze institutional change, including cost budgeting and various forms of privatization.