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Retrospective cost analyses of EPA regulations: a case study approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2015

Elizabeth Kopits ,
Al McGartland ,
Cynthia Morgan ,
Carl Pasurka ,
Ron Shadbegian ,
Nathalie B. Simon ,
David Simpson  and
Ann Wolverton
Elizabeth Kopits
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Economics, U.S., Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
Al McGartland
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Economics, U.S., Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
Cynthia Morgan
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Economics, U.S., Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
Carl Pasurka
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Economics, U.S., Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
Ron Shadbegian
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Economics, U.S., Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
David Simpson
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Economics, U.S., Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
Ann Wolverton
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Economics, U.S., Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
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Abstract:

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EPA has conducted several ex post assessments of regulatory compliance costs, with the ultimate goal of identifying ways to improve ex ante cost estimation. The work to date has culminated in four case studies that examine five regulations using a common conceptual framework. The standardized framework provides a systematic way to investigate key drivers of compliance costs to see if judgments can be made about why and how ex ante and ex post estimates of costs differ. In addition to describing this conceptual framework, we describe the criteria used to select the rules to be analyzed, summarize the main hypotheses for why ex ante and ex post cost estimates may differ and discuss some of the challenges encountered in conducting these ex post analyses.

Keywords

cost analysisenvironmental regulationex post comparisonsretrospective analysis
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis , Volume 5 , Issue 2: Special Issue: Retrospective Analysis of the Costs of EPA Regulations , June 2014 , pp. 173 - 193
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis 2014

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