Mix Of Policy Instruments Research Articles

Environmental governance in the European Union: strategies and instruments for absolute decoupling

The EU recently emphasised the need to speed up the pace of reforms to improve the state of the environment both in Europe and internationally. This becomes in particular challenging, as the 'Lisbon Strategy' defines the general goal of an annual economic growth rate of 3%. Decoupling of economic growth from the use of natural resources and the production of waste and emissions is regarded as the core strategy to reconcile environmental protection and continued economic growth. However, measurable policy targets are to a large extent, missing. Furthermore, a comprehensive headline indicator for the evaluation of progress towards an absolute reduction of environmental pressures is missing in the Lisbon indicator set. We use the concept of societal metabolism as a framework for deriving priority environmental policy themes for decoupling efforts. A mix of policy instruments is suggested for achieving the overarching target of absolute decoupling through dematerialisation (quantity) and detoxification (quality) of production and consumption activities.

Innovation in municipal solid waste management in England: policy, practice and sustainability

This paper identifies influences on the design of the innovative statutory framework now driving change in waste management practice in England. The framework employs a mix of policy instruments, including a landfill allowance-trading scheme that is the first-ever economy-wide permit trading scheme and mandatory recycling targets. Despite intensive stakeholder scrutiny of the framework, concerns remain over its design: the scope for mutual interference among policy instruments, the allocations of permits and targets, the procedures used for rewarding performance, imbalance in the treatment of landfill and incineration and ambiguity over the role of incineration. The new arrangements increase financial risk. Their complexity could lead to expensive management errors. This paper highlights these concerns, explores possible implications for the sustainability of waste management practice and suggests possible policy modifications. More generally, the paper points to practical difficulties of policy-led sustainability-oriented innovation in the complex context of multilevel governance structures and processes.

The Politics of 'Light Handed Regulation': New Environmental Policy Instruments in Australia

Introduction In order to understand the potential of New Environmental Policy Instruments (NEPIs) in tackling issues like climate change, this paper places their development in the context of challenges to the traditional role of the Australian state in promoting welfare and national economic development through regulatory measures. This contextual information is crucial to understanding the mix of policy instruments adopted by contemporary policy makers. The analysis of environmental policy highlights the persistence of regulatory traditions and the emergence of new ways of organizing state interventions – including voluntary agreements, targeting resources to create competitive eco-efficient industries and research on economic or market-based systems like emissions trading.

Innovating SMEs and Regions: The Need for Policy Intelligence and Interactive Policies

Based on the empirical findings achieved through comparative research involving 40 innovation policy instruments from 11 European regions, this paper proposes a shift in rationale and in the broad orientations of innovation policy to focus on addressing SMEs in their regional context. The main role for innovation policy, which aims to increase the capacity of a region and the capabilities of its SMEs to innovate, is to foster interactive learning within the firms and within the region. This calls for an interactive mode of policy intervention. The paper deals also with the question of how to build a coherent portfolio of policy instruments, taking into account both regional situations and specific SMEs needs in terms of innovation. The key message is that there is no 'one-size-fits-all' policy portfolio. Regional differences in innovation capabilities call for a tailored mix of policy instruments. One salient element of the conclusion is the need for more 'policy intelligence' in this complex field.

Information and environmental policy: A tale of two agencies

In recent years, scholars and practitioners have focused increasing attention on the role of information in achieving environmental policy goals. This article develops a framework for understanding how information is used in making environmental policy, and compares the kinds of information development and communication efforts undertaken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). The analysis suggests that institutional factors such as organizational structure and the mix of policy instruments used by the agency affect the kinds of information efforts undertaken. It also suggests possible areas of focus for environmental information efforts within the EPA and the EEA. These suggestions and the framework provided may also be of use to other environmental agencies.

Many borrow, more save, and all insure: implications for food and micro-finance policy

Among policy makers, researchers and micro-finance practitioners alike, there is much discussion on the role of micro-finance for alleviation of poverty. This paper focuses on the linkages between access to credit, savings and insurance services and household food security. What is the role of micro-finance in the overall mix of policy instruments? What types of financial services are demanded by the poor, and which are offered by micro-finance institutions (MFIs)? Hence, which are the gaps in financial products? We present a conceptual framework that addresses these questions, and provide a synthesis of the empirical results of a multi-country research program in ten African and Asian countries. We conclude that insurance can be considered as the missing third of micro-finance during the 1990s, and that the MFI's outreach to the poor can be improved by offering savings, credit and insurance products that enhance the poor's ability to bear risks. Applied research on the poor's preferences as well as bold experimentation with new financial products appear to be particularly promising in making progress towards that goal. Since insurance services are difficult to be offered except for easily observable idiosyncratic risks, precautionary savings services can be a valuable insurance substitute in particular for the poorest.

Information and environmental policy: A tale of two agencies

In recent years, scholars and practitioners have focused increasing attention on the role of information in achieving environmental policy goals. This article develops a framework for understanding how information is used in making environmental policy, and compares the kinds of information development and communication efforts undertaken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). The analysis suggests that institutional factors such as organizational structure and the mix of policy instruments used by the agency affect the kinds of information efforts undertaken. It also suggests possible areas of focus for environmental information efforts within the EPA and the EEA. These suggestions and the framework provided may also be of use to other environmental agencies.

Domestic energy efficiency in Ireland: correcting market failure

If the benefits of domestic energy efficiency are so great, why are they not reaped in actuality and what can be done about it? This paper deals with these crucial questions. It is based on the findings of a recent comprehensive study evaluating the costs (labour and materials) and benefits (energy cost savings, environmental benefits, including reductions in emissions of CO 2, NO x , SO 2 and PM 10, comfort gains and mortality and morbidity impacts) to Irish society of bringing the entire housing stock up to the latest Building Regulations. The reasons for the lack of take-up of energy-conservation measures are discussed. The paper formulates policy proposals to address the impediments to effective action in the market for domestic energy efficiency. The various policy instruments available to overcome these barriers are outlined. Past performance, citing specific exemplars, both from abroad and from experience in Ireland, is reported. The final section suggests a mix of policy instruments to assist the realisation of the potential benefits of the energy-conservation programme. The principal initiatives recommended include the provision of a combination of grants to low-income households and a clear State-led information campaign explaining the benefits of conserving energy to the householder.

Climate change policy in the peripheral countries of Europe: Ireland as a case study

Owing to their relative underdevelopment, the cohesion countries of the European Union have been allowed to increase emissions above the 1990 base within the EU envelope. However, they face daunting challenges in meeting the agreed targets, because it requires breaking the link between rising gross domestic product and rising energy consumption at a relatively early stage in the economic development cycle. This paper examines the extreme case of Ireland, which is experiencing the most rapid growth in the EU. It shows that Ireland has already reached its emissions ceiling. The best opportunities for reducing emissions lie in energy supply, industry, and the household sector. A mix of policy instruments is required. Emissions trading seems to be the most effective policy instrument for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy supply and large industry. Such a policy would provide a stimulus for continuous improvement, without which Ireland's limit will be breached.

Five political and policy imperatives in green plan formation: The Canadian case

The 1990 Canadian Green Plan is useful as a case study in examining the five key political and policy imperatives essential in green plan formation, defined as systematic efforts by western governments to transform their environmental policy approaches from a remedial clean‐up approach after pollution has occurred to a preventive approach intended to support sustainable development. The five political and policy imperatives are prime ministerial leadership; sustained ministerial and bureaucratic coordination and leadership; strategic support by both environmental nongovernmental organisations (ENGOs) and business interests; a suitable conceptual framework for articulating and communicating the meaning of sustainable development in a world of mass‐media‐driven politics; and the right mix of policy instruments.

Fiscal Policy for Stable and Equitable Growth in Latin America

The resumption of economic growth in Latin America is predicated on the successful restoration of fiscal discipline and stabilization. In restoring fiscal discipline, the mix of policy instruments should aim at maximizing efficiency in the use of domestic and foreign resources. Poverty alleviation in Latin America is not likely to be achieved, in the near future, by economic growth. Policy should promote a more equitable distribution of income. While fiscal policy can play an important role in this process, it is important to realize that the current high domestic inflation in many Latin American countries implies that expanding social programs has high social costs. Fiscal policy should aim at increasing the income share for the poor by making the tax system more efficient and by reforming the existing social programs to make them more effectively targeted toward the poor.