Domestic Driving Factors of Environmental Performance

In times of global climate change and diminishing energy resources, the question of the determinants for ‘successful policy-making’ in environmental policy is more important than ever. Literature focusing on instrument choice and implementation effectiveness has not provided clear findings yet on how certain policy instruments can improve the environmental performance of nations. Building on extensive expert interviews in France and the Netherlands, this book aims to identify the success factors for effective policy implementation and environmental performance in the field of water protection policy 1970-2005. Both countries apply the same policy instrument mix but differ in their environmental performance. The aim of this book is to explain this observation on the basis of political institutions and the interests of key actors in the policy-making process, conceptualised here as 'regulatory styles'. This book provides insights for the research on implementation effectiveness and instrument choice by shedding light on the role of regulatory styles for the specific characteristics of instrument design and policy outcomes.