Canadian Public Policy · 1998 · 109 citations · 23 references
Public AffairsAgricultural EconomicsEnvironmental PolicyAgricultural PolicyEnvironmental EconomicsPollution ControlAgricultural Emissions ReductionAgricultural PollutionEconomic Instruments For Pollution ControlPollution EconomicsAgricultural EmissionsAgricultural Emissions MitigationDiffuse SourcesEnvironmental IncentivesIntensive Livestock ProductionPollution Abatement CostsPollution Sources
Economic instruments can achieve environmental goals at least cost and provide incentives for further improvements. There are limited opportunities for the use of such instruments in agriculture where the pollution problems can be traced as in the case of intensive livestock operations. However, most environmental problems in agriculture involve a large number of diffuse pollution sources whose abatement practices are unobservable rendering it difficult to achieve cost-effetive pollution control with any single instrument. Rather than relying on firstbest solutions through economic instruments, the most effective way of dealing with diffusesource pollution problems in agriculture may be technological developments and business-led initiatives.
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