Environmental and Health Regulation in the United States and the European Union - by M Smith (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This book explains why the rigor of environmental and health regulation in the European Union has surpassed that in the United States during the past decade. The book develops an original argument deriving from crucial differences in the character of regulation in the European Union and the United States. The essence of this difference is that U.S. regulators seek to balance regulatory objectives with competitiveness goals, while EU regulators must triangulate regulatory objectives, competitiveness, and the effort to advance European integration. The book builds evidence for the argument through careful comparison of cases of regulation of chemicals, health claims on food labels, and recycling of vehicles reaching the end of their useful lives. "--

Book Synopsis

During the first decade of the twenty-first century, the United States increasingly has relaxed its regulatory posture in the face of critical challenges to public health and the environment. This is true for regulation of recycling of end-of-life products, including autos and electronic components; potentially hazardous chemicals; and health claims on food labels. Coincidentally, the European Union has gravitated toward more restrictive regulation in these very same areas. How might we explain these diverging regulatory trajectories of the world s two largest market economies in an era of rising public awareness of dangers to the public and the planet? The explanation derives not from cultural differences in willingness to tolerate risk, but rather from distinctive regulatory tradeoffs - between environment and competitiveness in the United States and environment, competitiveness, and integration in the EU.

About the Author

MITCHELL P. SMITH Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Political Science at the University of Oklahoma, USA.