The impact of information on behavior under an ambient‐based policy for regulating nonpoint source pollution. Issue 5 (1st May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miao, Haoran; Fooks, Jacob R.; Guilfoos, Todd; Messer, Kent D.; Pradhanang, Soni M.; Suter, Jordan F.; Trandafir, Simona; Uchida, Emi
• Is Part Of: Water resources research. Volume 52:Issue 5(2016:May)
• Page Start: 3294
• Page End: 3308
• Publication Date: 2016-05-01
• Subjects: nonpoint source pollution -- ambient‐based policy -- information -- laboratory economic experiment -- river and stream water quality model; Hydrology -- Periodicals; 333.91
• DOI: 10.1002/2015WR018142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1397

Abstract

Abstract: Stemming from Segerson [1988], literature on nonpoint source pollution shows that ambient‐based regulatory policies can induce polluters in a common watershed to comply with an exogenously determined pollution standard. This study uses laboratory economic experiments in a spatially heterogeneous setting to test the effectiveness of an ambient tax/subsidy policy in a setting with realistic in‐stream nutrient transport dynamics when varying levels of sensor information on ambient pollution are available to the agents and the regulator. We find that increasing the frequency of ambient monitoring improves the spatial allocation of emissions reductions. In particular, with more frequent monitoring, the ambient‐based policy induces firms further from the monitoring point to reduce emissions significantly more than downstream firms. Overall, the results suggest that enhanced temporal resolution of monitoring leads to efficiency gains. Key Points: Experiment shows effectiveness of ambient‐based policy The level of water quality information influences behavior Enhanced water quality information improves social efficiency