An Analysis of the U.S. Environmental Policy: A Typology of Environmental Problem for Government Action

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the selection of policy tools for environmental problems under the incremental tradition, concentrating on the regulatory role. Our aim is to propose a typology composed of political significance and detection of source. This typology implies that the problem decides its own policy tool. This argument is discussed by reviewing different types of environmental problems, and suggests that for successful enforcement, the selected policy tool is expected to match the problem. The possibility of hypothesis building on the policy's success/failure is considered. The expansion of the U.S. EPA's role is recommended for environmental policy whose goal should be ecological stability. Finally, the necessity and usefulness of environmental group as a policy tool is considered.