Growing populations and economies have increased the public's awareness that the world's environment resources are finite. The issues of global warming and depletion of the ozone layer have given universal significance to what were once local and regional pollution problems. This book examines the interface between public economics and environmental economics.

What is evident is that Coasian negotiations fail to internalize the costs of environmental degradation often calling for public intervention through the market mechanism. This book considers these issues and includes contributions on assessment problems, institutional aspects, the need for coordination and efficiency and distribution issues.