ABSTRACT
In the continuing debate about government regulatory activity, a major bone of contention is the relative merit of two sharply contrasted methods for achieving public goals through the direction of private and public activity. In one of these, a governmental agency at the national or state level tells firms, enterprises, individuals, and governments of lower jurisdiction just what they must do–what technology they should install, where they should locate, how they should design a building or a machine. This chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides a complete picture of the complex systems for water quality management developed at the national level in France and at the "land" level in Germany. It deals with the French national implementation incentive system. The book discusses the implementation incentive system used by the river basin authorities of the Nordrhein-Westfalen state of West Germany.
