Final answer:
Having too many control plans aimed at the same control goal is known as control redundancy. Command-and-control regulations have been criticized for their inefficiency, lack of incentives for further pollution reduction, and potential to stifle innovation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Having too many control plans directed at the same control goal is called control redundancy. Command-and-control regulation in environmental policy refers to the government imposing specific limits and requirements on pollution levels. Economists have identified several problems with this regulatory approach:
- Inefficiency due to firms having different production technologies and, therefore, facing different abatement costs.
- No incentive for firms to exceed the standards, resulting in a lack of motivation to further reduce pollution once the basic requirements are met.
- Potential stifling of innovation because firms are not encouraged to develop better pollution reduction technologies beyond the mandated standards.