Interests and Implementation: Fostering Voluntary Regulatory Actions

Abstract

This research addresses the role of interest groups in the implementation of voluntary forms of regulation to prevent harms to water quality. Voluntary programs engender information uncertainties and competing pressures on decisions to address potential harms. We address hypotheses about these considerations for data about actions undertaken by marine facilities, with particular attention to differences in the influence of governmental actors, environmental groups, and trade associations. We find that these influences are shaped to differing degrees by the trust placed in information sources, fears of future regulation, a sense of duty to act, and desire to reduce informational and regulatory uncertainties. These findings suggest potential roles for interest groups in overcoming information gaps in the implementation of voluntary regulatory programs.