Leapfrogging Technology : Cost-Effective Solution for Pollution in Developing Countries?
The pace of technological advance in the past few decades has opened new possibilities. Consider the technology for controlling emissions from cars, buses, and trucks. Government regulations have driven this technology as much as the technology has driven regulations, resulting in vehicle emission standards in industrial countries that have become increasingly stringent-far more so than those in developing countries. These standards are deemed necessary to adequately protect the public, especially from excess mortality and morbidity caused by air pollution. But air pollution is much more serious in many developing country cities. Doesn't this argue for imposing standards just as stringent, since the technologies to achieve them are now available? Moreover, since the private sector bears the cost of adopting these technologies, there should be little direct impact on the government budget, removing one of the potential obstacles to implementation.
| Summary: | The pace of technological advance in the
past few decades has opened new possibilities. Consider the
technology for controlling emissions from cars, buses, and
trucks. Government regulations have driven this technology
as much as the technology has driven regulations, resulting
in vehicle emission standards in industrial countries that
have become increasingly stringent-far more so than those in
developing countries. These standards are deemed necessary
to adequately protect the public, especially from excess
mortality and morbidity caused by air pollution. But air
pollution is much more serious in many developing country
cities. Doesn't this argue for imposing standards just
as stringent, since the technologies to achieve them are now
available? Moreover, since the private sector bears the cost
of adopting these technologies, there should be little
direct impact on the government budget, removing one of the
potential obstacles to implementation. |
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