A Review of Markets for Clean Air: The U.S. Acid Rain Program

Peter Cramton

Papers of Peter Cramton from University of Maryland, Department of Economics - Peter Cramton

Abstract: The book begins with a quote from J.H. Dales’ Pollution, Property, and Prices, "If it is feasible to establish a market to implement a policy, no policy-maker can afford to do without one." This book provides important evidence in support of Dales’ statement. The book is a thorough examination of the first several years of the U.S. Acid Rain Program. This innovative program uses a cap-and-trade approach, rather than the traditional command-and-control approach, to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. The book offers substantial evidence of the program’s success. The analysis is of both practical and scientific importance. From a practical viewpoint, the acid rain program is an ambitious effort to reduce a major pollutant. It is important for us to understand whether the program is successful and how it might be improved. From a scientific viewpoint, the authors’ analysis provides a framework and methodology for evaluating similar programs. There is much we can learn about effective regulation from the analysis.

Keywords: Auctions; Environmental Auctions; Cap-and-Trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D44 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 7 pages
Date: 2000-08-31, Revised 2000-08-31
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-reg
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published in Journal of Economic Literature, 38, 627-633, September 2000

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pcc:pccumd:00jel

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