Looking Back at Fifty Years of the Clean Air Act

Joseph E. Aldy, Maximillian Auffhammer, Maureen Cropper, Arthur G. Fraas and Richard D. Morgenstern
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Joseph E. Aldy: Resources for the Future
Arthur G. Fraas: Resources for the Future
Richard D. Morgenstern: Resources for the Future
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Dallas Burtraw

No 20-01, RFF Working Paper Series from Resources for the Future

Abstract: Since 1970, transportation, power generation, and manufacturing have dramatically transformed as air pollutant emissions fell significantly. To evaluate the causal impacts of the Clean Air Act on these changes, we synthesize and review retrospective analyses of air quality regulations. The geographic heterogeneity in regulatory stringency common to many regulations has important implications for emissions, public health, compliance costs, and employment. Cap-and-trade programs have delivered greater emission reductions at lower cost than conventional regulatory mandates, but policy practice has fallen short of the cost-effective ideal. Implementing regulations in imperfectly competitive markets have also influenced the Clean Air Act’s benefits and costs.

Date: 2020-01-06
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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