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Environmental Policy Reform: A Taxonomy of Economists' Perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

Leonard Shabman
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
Kurt Stephenson
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

Abstract

As the environmental policy recommendations of economists become more acceptable, differences in the professional understanding of, and support for, different policy forms are becoming more apparent. These different approaches to environmental policy and research are described around a taxonomy of four perspectives: “rational analysts,” “cost analysts,” “market managers,” and “free market environmentalists.” These perspectives are compared and contrasted. Recognition of these differences can result in a better appreciation of the different research agendas of economists and can improve clarity in teaching and policy advising.

Type
Invited Paper Sessions
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1996

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