ABSTRACT
Environmentally progressive ‘pioneers’ are important forces behind the development of international and European Union (EU) environmental policy. On the basis of their own domestic regulations they promote the adoption of stringent environmental policies at the international level. This serves a dual goal. On the one hand, strict international measures lead to the reduction of transboundary flows of pollution and thus contribute to achieving national environmental policy goals. On the other hand, competitive disadvantages for industry in the ‘pioneer’ countries will diminish if others have to take similarly costly measures. The ‘leader-laggard’ dynamic in international environmental policy currently enjoys considerable academic interest (eg Haas, 1993; Héritier, 1994; Héritier et al, 1994; Sbragia, 1996; Holzinger, 1997; Andersen and Liefferink, 1997a).
