THE ENVIRONMENTAL FAILURES OF CENTRAL PLANNING

This paper examines the ideological, economic, and political factors t hat have led to low levels of environmental quality in centrally plann ed economies. In particular, the paper examines how the following have contributed to low environmental quality: (1) the labor theory of val ue, (2) highly polluting resource bases, (3) low income levels, (4) sy stemic inefficiency in production, (5) the difficulty of incorporating complex environmental considerations into the planning process, (6) t he insensitivity of leaders to the welfare of their citizens, (7) high expenditures on internal security, and (8) the ability of leaders to suppress environmental awareness through the control of environmental information. The paper analyzes these explanations, exploring their im plications for ongoing political and economic reforms in these economi es and for environmental policies in market economies.