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Abstract

This article describes a model for resource allocation decisions between economic development and environmental investments. In the model, economic activity (the input) creates pollutant emissions moderated by process technology, investments in pollution control equipment, and regulatory control and enforcement. The net emissions (the outputs) create impacts: changes in natural resource quality, resource availability, and public health. The impacts in turn serve as inputs to interactive economic models. The general form of the model is uncontroversial. However, quantitative data are available for only 4 of the 11 major areas. In a regulatory arena based on scientific findings, decision makers deserve better support than this. The authors are publishing the conceptual form of the model to identify this knowledge problem, solicit participation in refining the concepts and addressing data deficiencies, and gain a consensus that will aim future research toward obtaining data that can support policy makers effectively.

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Economic Activity,Environmental Impacts,and Public Investment;Making the Connections

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