Accidents waiting to happen: Liability policy and toxic pollution releases

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Alberini, A; Austin, D
• 署名单位: University System of Maryland; University of Maryland College Park; Resources for the Future
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/003465302760556530
• 发表日期: 2002-11
• 页码: 729-741
• 关键词: strict liability

摘要

Proponents of environmental policies based on liability assert that strict liability imposed on polluters induces firms to handle hazardous wastes properly. We examine unintended pollution releases, relating them to the liability imposed on polluters by state mini-Superfund laws. We find that strict liability reduces the frequency and severity of pollution releases, but that its effects vary with firm-size. Smaller firms are associated with more pollution releases in states with strict liability, suggesting that in these states smaller firms may have specialized in riskier production processes. Their number, however, has not necessarily grown in response to the state's liability policy.