Cost of abating sulfur, nitrogen, and ozone air pollutants

Conference · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Am. J. Agric. Econ.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6990854

Lave, L B

Economists argue over conflicting cost estimates of air pollution abatement because they base their analyses on different assumptions. The author argues that pollution laws, such as those requiring emission control on cars, focused on new equipment without ensuring that the equipment continues to perform. The acid rain problem is the result of neglecting old sources under the Clear Air Act. By focusing on economic efficiency, economists have rejected policies which meet the criteria of public acceptance and administrative simplicity. The costs of accelerating sulfur and nitrogen oxide abatement increase rapidly with the level of control from $2.6 billion to $5.5 billion per year by 1995 without considering the costs of dislocation to workers and communities. There are no current estimates for the costs of ozone abatement, which requires that control equipment continue to function over the lifetime of a car. 18 references.

• Research Organization: Carnegie-Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 6990854
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. J. Agric. Econ.; (United States) Journal Volume: 68:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
500600* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Regulations-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEAN AIR ACT
CONTROL
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
COST ESTIMATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
LAWS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION LAWS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES