scholarly journals Confronting Regulatory Cost and Quality Expectations. An Exploration of Technical Change in Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Taylor ◽  
C. Anna Spurlock ◽  
Hung-Chia Yang
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 749-773
Author(s):  
Jonathan Fisher

There is considerable concern and debate about the economic impacts of environmental regulations. Jonathan Fisher, former Economics Manager at the Environment Agency in England and Wales, reviews the available evidence on this subject. Section 2 presents estimates of the costs and benefits of environmental regulations. Section 3 examines the impacts of environmental regulations on economic growth, innovation and technical change as well as impacts on competitiveness and any movement of businesses to less pollution havens. He questions call for greater certainty regarding future environmental regulations, whereas in fact there should be calls for less uncertainty. This section then suggests how this could be achieved. This section then finishes with an overview of the available evidence. This includes an examination of the Porter Hypothesis that environmental regulations can trigger greater innovation that may partially or more than fully offset the compliance costs. Section 4 then sets out principles for how better environmental regulation can improve its impacts on sustainable economic growth and illustrates how the European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive is a good example of the application of these principles in practice. Section 5 reviews current and recent political perspectives regarding developments in environmental regulations across the EU and shows how the United Kingdom (UK) has successfully positively managed to influence such developments so that EU environmental regulations now incorporate many of these principles to improve their impacts on economic growth. Section 5.1 then examines the implications of Brexit for UK environmental regulations. Finally, Section 6 sets out some best practice principles to improve the impacts of environmental regulation on sustainable economic growth, innovation and technical change.


1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-131
Author(s):  
F. Lux ◽  
H. Stumpf

Abstract Current demands by the consumer, the automobile industry, and the environment have determined the basis of this investigation. In the past, the requirements—ever faster, ever sportier—were accepted as decisive parameters for the development of our study. In the future, rational and safety-related tire characteristics as well as environmental consciousness will increase, whereas purely performance-related parameters will diminish in their importance. Through our light-weight tire project, we have paved the way for future tire generations. The first priority is the minimal use of material resources; this means a reduction of materials and energy in tire production by using advanced design and production methods without sacrificing performance standards. This benefits the consumer—the final judge of all of our activities—by considerably reducing the rolling resistance, leading to lower fuel consumption. Further design targets include the improvement of rolling behavior and increased comfort by reducing tire weight, and therefore a reduction in unsprung masses on the vehicle.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document