This volume offers an objective view of some of the most critical issues in natural resources. Written in nontechnical language, it uses ideas drawn from economics to look at the issues, examine how government laws and policies have caused some of them arise, and to find ways in which problems can be lessened. Originally published in 1982, this is a valuable resource for students interested in environmental studies and public policy.

Originally published in 1990, this study tracks the issues, progress and problems in environmental issues in the United States from the 1980's. Improvements in air and water quality as well as regulation of hazardous waste and toxic substances has led to new policies such as the Superfund Act and a general increase in awareness about environmental issues on a federal level. Placing an emphasis on economics, these papers analyse the effectiveness of environmental policy and progress made in relation to air pollution, water quality, hazardous wastes, toxic substances and enforcement of regulations. This title will be of interest to students of environmental studies.

This volume offers an objective view of some of the most critical issues in natural resources. Written in nontechnical language, it uses ideas drawn from economics to look at the issues, examine how government laws and policies have caused some of them arise, and to find ways in which problems can be lessened. Originally published in 1982, this is a valuable resource for students interested in environmental studies and public policy.

Originally published in 1990, this study tracks the issues, progress and problems in environmental issues in the United States from the 1980's. Improvements in air and water quality as well as regulation of hazardous waste and toxic substances has led to new policies such as the Superfund Act and a general increase in awareness about environmental issues on a federal level. Placing an emphasis on economics, these papers analyse the effectiveness of environmental policy and progress made in relation to air pollution, water quality, hazardous wastes, toxic substances and enforcement of regulations. This title will be of interest to students of environmental studies.

The full effects of decisions made today about many environmental policies -including climate change and nuclear waste- will not be felt for many years. For issues with long-term ramifications, analysts often employ discount rates to compare present and future costs and benefits. This is reasonable, and discounting has become a procedure that raises few objections. But are the methods appropriate for measuring costs and benefits for decisions that will have impacts 20 to 30 years from now the right ones to employ for a future that lies 200 to 300 years in the future? This landmark book argues that methods reasonable for measuring gains and losses for a generation into the future may not be appropriate when applied to a longer span of time. Paul Portney and John Weyant have assembled some of the world's foremost economists to reconsider the purpose, ethical implications, and application of discounting in light of recent research and current policy concerns. These experts note reasons why conventional calculations involved in discounting are undermined when considering costs and benefits in the distant future, including uncertainty about the values and preferences of future generations, and uncertainties about available technologies. Rather than simply disassemble current methodologies, the contributors examine innovations that will make discounting a more compelling tool for policy choices that influence the distant future. They discuss the combination of a high shout-term with a low long-term diescount rate, explore discounting according to more than one set of anticipated preferences for the future, and outline alternatives involving simultaneous consideration of valuation, discounting and political acceptability.

While more than 2,700 emergency removals of hazardous materials have taken place under Superfund, implementing the long-term cleanup program has been the object of considerable controversy. One of the most contentious issues is whether the liability standards in the law should be revised. The authors analyze the pros and cons associated with the current liability approach, as well as with a variety of alternative strategies.

Wallace E. Oates has made a pioneering contribution to environmental and public economics. This original selection of essays honors his seminal work in both these fields. The contributions to this volume apply Wallace E. Oates's key ideas and insights to a broad range of problems. The essays on environmental economics assess environmental policy in today's conservative era and analyse environmental taxes, environmental federalism and the choice of environmental policy instruments. The chapters on public economics investigate vouchers for private schools, capitalization, urban growth controls and the welfare economics of congestible amenities in general equilibrium models. The authors also examine intergovernmental grants in South Africa, public pensions in the European Union and fiscal federalism in early American history. Environmental and Public Economics is an informative and thought-provoking celebration of Wallace E. Oates's work which will be useful for students and scholars of environmental studies, public policy and public sector economics.

A discussion on making environmental policy. Stelzer views the debate as a conflict centering on economic growth, income distribution and government control of individual behaviour. Portney's rationalist analysis places an emphasis on calculating the costs and benefits of particular policies.

While more than 2,700 emergency removals of hazardous materials have taken place under Superfund, implementing the long-term cleanup program has been the object of considerable controversy. One of the most contentious issues is whether the liability standards in the law should be revised. The authors analyze the pros and cons associated with the current liability approach, as well as with a variety of alternative strategies.