Environmental Regulations and Economic Growth

Historically, environmental regulations are considered to be detrimental to economic growth and their implementation has been controversial among economists and environmental policymakers. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between environmental regulations and economic growth. The analysis in this book systematically integrates economic theory of regional growth and spatial econometric modeling to develop appropriate policy recommendations for implementation of environmental regulations. A unique aspect of this book is that it identifies the spatial effects of environmental regulations and other local characteristics in regional economic growth. Research findings show that changes in population, income, and employment, including socio-economic and political forces influence the stringency of environmental regulations. The research findings and analysis reinforce the need to design and implement environmental regulations that stimulate economic growth and enhance environmental quality. Its rich insights make the book a useful source of information and standard reference for economists, policy analysts, and consultants.