This paper addresses a set of conflicting national objectives, that between economic competitiveness and environmental quality. In lower-income economies, the perceived benefits of improved environmental quality may be valued less than in richer economies while the perceived opportunity costs of...

The issue as to what degree there is a trade-off between economic growth and environmental quality was one of the topics discussed at the recent “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference held in Belgrade in mid-October 2007. This paper provides an overall assessment of that conference...