ABSTRACT
The case studies reviewed in this book show that there is much that can be learnt from history. Such learning begins with two basic observations:
Regulatory appraisal and control of technologies and economic development involves balancing the costs of being too restrictive on innovation with the hazards and costs of being too permissive, in situations of scientific uncertainty and ignorance. The case studies provide many examples where regulatory inaction led to costly consequences that were not — and sometimes could not have been — foreseen.
The case studies also provide many examples where ‘early warnings’, and even ‘loud and late’ warnings, were clearly ignored; where the scope of hazard appraisal was too narrow; and where regulatory actions were taken without sufficient consideration of alternatives, or of the conditions necessary for their successful implementation in the real world.
