This paper addresses the important question: What is the proper role of the state in the general area of environmental regulation? The subject itself poses certain major difficulties for political theories which, whatever their differences, at least call for both a...

This paper critically considers the neoclassical social-cost approach to problems of pollution. This traditional approach, when subjected to close scrutiny, is found to be seriously wanting in applicability and consistency. A less ambitious alternative based on notions of strict liability is...

The end ofWorld War II marked the birth of the modern chemical industry. From that time synthetic rubbers, fibers, and complex organohalogens have been produced in large commercial quan- tities, such that each member of modern society is exposed to chemicals of exotic physiocheniical activity....

Theeconomistisindeedinadifficultposition.Veryoftenheenters his profession motivated by a desire to in some way effect social reform, yet an intellectually honest and strict adherence to a wert- frei methodology often confines him to an ivory tower. The rigorous formulation and application of the...

Law is a set of commands; the principles of tort or criminal law, which we shall be dealing with, are negative commands or prohibi- tions, on the order of “thou shalt not†do actions, X, Y, or Z.1 In short, certain actions are considered wrong to such a degree that it is considered...

In 1972 Congress established the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in which the Environmental Protection Agency was given responsibility to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters.’’ Two national goals of...

T0 the practical mind, particularly one trained in economics, it might sound a trifle paradoxical to suggest that the truly important issues in a public policy debate have nothing to do with the relative efficacy of the policy options. Paradoxical or not, this is very often the case. And there...

In this paper I will focus on risk controversies of a familiar type: Someone in one locale is concerned about being seriously injured as a result of human activities carried on elsewhere. The discussion will be limited to risks that are unintentional in the sense that no one is deliberately...

The contemporary American city serves as evidence of government failure and as a focal point for crisismongering. In this paper I argue why it is important for Americans to reject the city as crisis syn- drome and to move to a view of the city as an increasingly malleable landscape formed by the...

The end ofWorld War II marked the birth of the modern chemical industry. From that time synthetic rubbers, fibers, and complex organohalogens have been produced in large commercial quan- tities, such that each member of modern society is exposed to chemicals of exotic physiocheniical activity....