This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Barrieu, P. Articles by Sinclair-Desgagné, B. Search for Related Content

On Precautionary Policies

London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
HEC Montréal, CIRANO, CIRAIG, Canada and École Polytechnique, Paris, France
p.m.barrieu{at}lse.ac.uk
bsd{at}hec.ca

In the United States and most industrialized countries, regulatory policies pertaining to food safety, occupational health, and environmental protection are (according to laws and statutes) science based. The complexity of some ecosystems and new technologies, however, makes it increasingly necessary to deal with situations where scientists cannot yet provide a definite picture. In this context, a widely invoked (but debated) rule, known as the Precautionary Principle, says to address potential hazards right away with preventive measures. We develop an intuitive formalization of this rule, which allows us to infer what an appropriate precautionary policy should do. Implications for resource conservation and the regulation of technological risks are then explored.

Key Words: environmental and health risks; science-based regulation; scientific uncertainty; Precautionary Principle; robust policies
History: Received: June 28, 2005;