Conflict with economic growth?

Debates about environmental regulation most often revolver around its

economic consequences, particularity its effects on economic growth. Recently,
this debate has become sharper. In addition to the traditional view that
environmental regulation impedes economic growth (most often espoused by
those in the business community), an opposing school of thought has
developed. According to its proponents, not only can environmental regulation
provide health and ecosystem protection, but it can stimulate the economy and
enhance U.S. competitiveness at the same time.
Because this debate has extraordinarily important policy consequences,
Resources for the future sought a way to air and clarify, the issues bound up in
it. Accordingly, RFSs Paul R. Portney and David Gardiner of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
discussed them on December 1, 1993, at one of RFFs regular Wednesday
seminars. The tho sections that follow adhere faithfully to their opening
remarks.
Although Gardiner is a proponent of the new view and Portney is more
sympathetic to the traditional one, both agree that the relationship between
the economy and the environment is a complicated one. Mereover, both agree
that the debate,