Controlling Pollution in Transition Economies: Theories and Methods(New Horizons in Environmental Economics series)

Controlling Pollution in Transition Economies examines and evaluates the recent experience of implementing pollution charges and the use of environmental permits in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia.The book focuses on controlling point-source air and water pollution. It describes and analyses the experience of implementing pollution charges and fines, and the interactions of these fiscal instruments with systems of pollution permits. The ten country case studies have been written by specialists who have been or are actively involved with the development or revision of pollution charges. Based on the experience of these countries, general conclusions are drawn for implementing pollution charge systems in other contexts. This book will encourage new theoretical and empirical work on the problem of implementing economic instruments (pollution charges), in combination with 'command-and-control' instruments (pollution permits). Practitioners and policy analysts as well as graduate students, academics, researchers and environmental consultants will find this book an important contribution to the existing literature.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Environmental Policy in the Making: Lessons from Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union 1. Controlling Pollution in Transition Economies: Introduction to the Book and Overview of Economic Concepts (B.A. Larson and R. Bluffstone) 2. A Survey of Pollution Charge Systems and Key Issues in Policy Design (J. Vincent and S. Farrow) 3. Estonia’s Mixed System of Pollution Permits, Standards and Charges (L. Gornaja, E. Kraav, B.A. Larson and K. Türk) 4. Implementing Pollution Permits and Charges in Latvia (J. Brunenieks, A. Kozlovska and B.A. Larson) 5. The Lithuanian Pollution Charge System: Evaluation and Prospects for the Future (D. Semènienè, R. Bluffstone and L. Cekanavucius) 6. Pollutions Charges in Russia: The Experience of 1990–1995 (M. Kozeltsev and A. Markandya) 7. Integration of Pollution Charge Systems with strict Performance Standards: The Experience of the Czech Republic (Z. Stepanek) 8. Environmental Emission Charges ad Air Quality Protection in Hungary: Recent Practice and Future Prospects (G.E. Morris, J. Tiderenczl and P. Kovács) 9. Environmental Charges in Poland (G.D. Anderson and B. Fiedor) 10. Implementation of Pollution Charge Systems in a Transition Economy: The Case of Slovakia (T.H. Owen, J. Myjvec and D. Jassikova) 11. Implementation of Pollution Charges and Fines in Bulgaria (N. Matev and N.I. Novov 12. The Road to Creating an Integrated Pollution Charge and Permitting System in Romania (C.F. Zinnes) 13. Implementing Pollution Permit and Charge Systems in Transition Economies: A Possible Blueprint (R.Bluffstone and B.A. Larson) Index

About the Author :
Edited by Randall Bluffstone, Portland State University, US and Bruce A. Larson, School of Public Health, Boston University, US

Review :
'The book is certainly a valuable read, and from both theoretical and practical sides it provides much background material and information useful for policymakers as well as scientific debate.'