Business, Science and Environmental Politics: Toward a Political Economy of Hope

Environmental laws and regulations would be enhanced in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness if regulators and policymakers understood the myths that guide today's environmental policymaking. In the search for a cleaner environment, ways to increase efficiency should be sought. This implies a primary reliance upon markets and private property rights for allocating the scarce resources required for environmental management. The role of government is to complement the functions of markets and voluntary organizations and to foster institutional arrangements that encourage economic progress and environmental sensitivity. Today's product testing standards are no longer acceptable to many environmentalists, and this increased environmental concern has resulted in attempts to shift the burden of proof for the health and environmental effects to manufacturers. Government can help in the protection from externalities by generating information, monitoring the environment, and providing mechanisms to deal with torts. But governments often work to redistribute wealth and opportunities in ways that inhibit prosperity.