Nitrate pollution due to agriculture, project report No.3: should the polluter pay?

Parsisson, David and Hanley, N and Spash, Clive L. (1994): Nitrate pollution due to agriculture, project report No.3: should the polluter pay?

Abstract

The Polluter Pays Principle is a well-established guiding force behind the regulation of polluters in the OECD. Agriculture, however, has frequently been exempt from this principle. This paper considers the reasons for this exemption, with particular reference to the control of nitrate pollution. After outlining the problems in applying many standard pollution control policies to nitrates, we move on to analyse the Nitrate Sensitive Areas scheme in the UK, which is a voluntary subsidy scheme. Reasons for differential take-up rates, and evidence on the effectiveness of the scheme are investigated. Finally, we consider the applicability of this approach to other forms of agricultural pollution.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: agriculture; non-point pollution; nitrates; pollution subsidies; polluter pays principle
• Subjects: Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q52 - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs ; Distributional Effects ; Employment Effects; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q53 - Air Pollution ; Water Pollution ; Noise ; Hazardous Waste ; Solid Waste ; Recycling

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