The late 1960s and early 1970s marked the dawn of a new era of environmental consciousness and governance throughout the industrialized world. In an era of unprecedented economic affluence within the developed nations, their electorates became increasingly concerned that environmental degradation caused by industrial pollution, the proliferation of automobiles, and unbridled resource extraction threatened the overall quality of life. This text provides a comprehensive appraisal of current issues relating to the choice of regulatory institutions and instruments, and is intended mainly as a guide for environmental policy analysts.