Analyzing Formation of Canadas Trade Policy - Essay Example

The main advantage of environment regulation through command-and-control intervention is political support despite its inefficient features. It has high symbolic value for the public that identifies prohibition with higher efficiency than taxing pollution discharge. It favors existing industries with political leverage and acts as a barrier for new firms. Most importantly it identifies it as cost-effective measures that would not pose charges directly to the public. It gives discretionary powers to the politically motivated bureaucracy. The exemptions from strict laws are used as tools for negotiation for political gains.

The major disadvantage of the command-and-control measure is that it promotes inequality and inefficiency in the garb of perceived costs. It is also a short-term policy that deters new firms to be innovative in effluent discharge. From the economists’ perspectives, effluent charges would remove disparity and would act as discouragement for the high discharge of pollutants by industries at large. Its results could only be seen on a long-term basis; hence, it is not favored by political forces. (words: 255)