IDCE 382 - U.S. Environmental Pollution Policy

Type of Course: Seminar

Studies approaches to regulating hazardous chemicals in air, water and food. The course is built around the three general types of interventions that have been practiced by regulatory agencies over the last three decades: shifting to safer technologies; issuing licenses to pollute in the form of industrial emission permits; and setting standards for air, water and food contaminants. The scientific controversies in setting standards and issuing permits are presented vis-à-vis the legislative mandates, the need for benefit-cost accounting and the scientific uncertainty. The strengths and weaknesses of command-and-control system versus the incentive-based system with regard to industrial enterprises are also discussed. Emphasizes recent efforts to decrease government involvement in corporate environmental management and to shift towards an incentive-based regulatory system. While focus is on public policies in the United States, international comparisons with Western European and Eastern European countries are included. The course has a seminar format, with weekly student presentations and class discussions. Required for environmental science and policy master's degree students.

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