THE ECONOMICS OF MARINE POLLUTION-CONTROL

This paper argues that economics can provide an insight into the cause s of marine pollution, as well as offering a framework for designing r egulatory instruments by which pollution can be reduced. Disenchantmen t with 'command and control' approaches is contrasted with growing int erest in economic approaches to pollution control, and the paper then goes on to examine the pro-active stance to environmental affairs now being taken by certain firms. While this more responsible attitude by business is to be welcomed, the paper concludes with the assertion tha t corporate environmentalism can never be a perfect substitute for gov ernment intervention in the management of the marine environment.