The Limitations of Legal Institutions For Addressing Environmental Risks
- 1 August 1991
- journal article
- Published by American Economic Association in Journal of Economic Perspectives
- Vol. 5 (3) , 93-113
- https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.5.3.93
Abstract
This article assesses the major systems of environmental liability in the United States—the toxic tort system and Superfund. The discussion of each of these areas first lays out the scientific background of the environmental problems and the applicable regulatory regime. It then analyzes the efficacy of these regimes for addressing environmental problems and suggests alternative institutional designs for better promoting the goals of equitable and cost-effective compensation of disease victims and efficient deterrence and remediation of environmental degradation.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Apportioning Damages among Potentially Insolvent ActorsThe Journal of Legal Studies, 1990
- Indivisible Toxic Torts: The Economics of Joint and Several LiabilityLand Economics, 1989
- Carcinogenic Risk EstimationScience, 1988
- Response : Carcinogenic Risk EstimationScience, 1988
- The Current Insurance Crisis and Modern Tort LawThe Yale Law Journal, 1987
- Crisis in Tort Law? The Institutional PerspectiveThe University of Chicago Law Review, 1987
- Products Liability, Corporate Structure, and Bankruptcy: Toxic Substances and the Remote Risk RelationshipThe Journal of Legal Studies, 1985
- Doing Away with Tort LawCalifornia Law Review, 1985
- Tort Reform and the Role of Government in Private Insurance MarketsThe Journal of Legal Studies, 1984
- Tort Law as a Regulatory Regime for Catastrophic Personal InjuriesThe Journal of Legal Studies, 1984