02.08.2013 Views

Shifting Alliances in the Accreditation of Higher Education: On the ...

Shifting Alliances in the Accreditation of Higher Education: On the ...

Shifting Alliances in the Accreditation of Higher Education: On the ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

discourage pollution s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pollution—environmental damage and health<br />

risks—is not usually borne by those produc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> pollution. 12<br />

The alleged efficiency <strong>of</strong> market solutions depends on certa<strong>in</strong> assumptions be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

made; <strong>in</strong> particular, <strong>the</strong>re must be ―low transaction costs, perfect <strong>in</strong>formation, and <strong>the</strong><br />

absence <strong>of</strong> collective action problems.‖ 13 Fur<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> efficiency that results from market<br />

solutions does not necessarily satisfy distributional concerns. That is, overall efficiency<br />

may be achieved without government regulation <strong>in</strong> certa<strong>in</strong> cases, but this <strong>of</strong>ten overlooks<br />

distributive consequences that may fur<strong>the</strong>r dim<strong>in</strong>ish efficiency, not to mention basic<br />

values such as fairness.<br />

Government regulation may also be used to deal with collective action problems,<br />

as when workers are unable to organize to <strong>in</strong>sist on safety rights. 14 Collective action<br />

problems are not unique to labor, however; firms may face collective action problems<br />

result<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> need to rema<strong>in</strong> competitive by ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g low costs. For example,<br />

firms may f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong>mselves unable to pursue costly, but environmentally responsible,<br />

policies unless <strong>the</strong>y can be certa<strong>in</strong> that <strong>the</strong>ir competitors are do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> same. In such a<br />

case, <strong>the</strong>re must be some uniform set <strong>of</strong> standards that is be<strong>in</strong>g imposed upon all firms<br />

with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry, as well as a reliable system <strong>of</strong> monitor<strong>in</strong>g and enforc<strong>in</strong>g those<br />

standards. 15<br />

12<br />

L<strong>in</strong>dblom, The Market System, 147-153.<br />

13<br />

Kenneth W. Abbott and Duncan Snidal, ―International ‗Standards‘ and International Governance,‖<br />

Journal <strong>of</strong> European Public Policy, 8:3 (2001): 348.<br />

taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/<strong>in</strong>dex/8CFAP21MMLYP5R3U.pdf<br />

14<br />

Ibid., 349-350.<br />

15 Ibid., 353.<br />

17

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!