ABSTRACT
It is a truism that implementing public policy is prone to uncertainty and frustration. Rarely do policies and programs that are designed to deliver public services, correct economic or social problems, and protect the public interest tum out as planned or have exactly the intended effects. This is as true in developing countries as anywhere, but there has been less analysis and less theorizing than in the developed world. This paper starts from the assumption that there are certain concepts, analytical routines and guiding principles available to developing country policymakers that should increase the chances of successful implementation of policies designed to reconcile economic development with environmental protection and the sustainable management of natural systems. The intention is not to suggest that there is any neat, theoretical solution, but to propose a practical approach that will help policy makers think about implementation problems when analyzing, designing and executing environmental policies and programs.
