Efficiency, equity and pollution: the case of radioactive waste

The absence of compensation for third parties who are the victims of residual (that is, permitted) pollution can entail a violation of Rawls's second principle of justice. Environmental pollution, insofar as it is an uncharged cost, may lead also to an economically inefficient distribution of goods and services. Radioactivity and radiation dose are forms of pollution for which a control philosophy has been adopted which demands a consideration of efficiency implications. In addition, a discharger of radioactive waste must ensure that the overall benefits resulting from the waste-generating practice exceed the total costs. But dissimilar distributions of costs and benefits may leave certain individuals worse off as a result of that practice. The use of different schemes of compensation for those adversely affected by radioactive waste repositories is examined.