IS EFFECTIVE REGULATION ALWAYS OXYMORONIC - THE STATES AND AMBIENT AIR-QUALITY

Objective. Popular perception and scholarly assessments generally conv erge around the idea that regulatory policy is ineffective. This artic le adds to the literature on policy outcomes by evaluating the effecti veness of state air pollution control programs. Methods. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency's National Air Data Branch are used t o develop three measures of change in average state ambient air qualit y from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s. Multiple regression and path a nalysis are used to assess the effects of changes in industrial activi ty, fossil fuel use, and various regulatory efforts on air quality in the states. Results. Contrary to previous studies, states with stronge r regulatory programs have, all other things equal, experienced greate r reductions in atmospheric concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and sul fur dioxide. Moreover, these effects exceed the impact of nonregulator y factors in explaining changes in state air quality. Conclusions. Fir st, regulatory policy is not always ineffective or counterproductive; strong regulatory programs have improved air quality. Second, a federa l approach to regulation has some advantages. Allowing states to go be yond federal minimum standards in environmental protection has provide d significant environmental benefits for citizens in those states that have chosen to surpass these standards.