Federal and state regulatory agencies frequently support and encourage the use of market-based effluent trading to achieve social water quality goals. This paper evaluates the design of the recently approved Virginia Nutrient Trading Program. The cost implications of setting a near limit of...

Economists and economic analysis can play different roles in the development of water quality management programs. Economists may develop cost analysis for improving regulatory program implementation or design institutional arrangements for market-like program. We argue that cost analysis may be...

The contribution of nonmarket valuation studies to decisions about the operation of nonfederal hydroelectric facilities is examined. Hydropower licensing reforms by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to better weigh market and nonmarket tradeoffs did not require or use nonmarket valuation....

Emission trading programs have been discussed with respect to achieving water quality objectives and future caps on carbon emissions. A significant part of this literature explores the institutional and technical design issues associated with trades involving nonpoint effluent sources and carbon...

Local water suppliers are increasingly faced with implementing policies to address temporary water shortages. This analysis estimates the reductions in residential water-use from the implementation of voluntary and mandatory water-use restrictions programs in Virginia. The level of information...

Numerous reforms to introduce financial incentives and flexibility into the Clean Water Act have been proposed. Cooperative organizational forms that consolidate multiple regulated entities under a single organizational umbrella are an overlooked, but potentially useful avenue for reform. In...

In 1996 the Environmental Protection Agency released draft guidelines intended to encourage the development of watershed-based effluent trading systems. Effluent trading systems allow dischargers the opportunity to transfer legal and financial requirements for effluent control in order to lower...