Air Pollution Control: Equity Considerations for Rural and Urban America

This paper deals with one of the many aspects of controlling air pollution–equity. The equity issue discussed concerns the fact that areas with high and low levels of air pollution are subjected to many of the same controls under current legislation. The equity issue is, of course, only one of several imperative questions that should be addressed and fully researched before society embarks on an abatement program of great magnitude. In fact, comparisons between expected cost outlays by firms and individuals to control air pollution, and the cost of allowing the pollution to continue, indicate that it may be less costly for firms and individuals to do nothing.