Coming Clean: Information Disclosure and Environmental Performance

Coming Clean examines how environmental information disclosure policies affect corporate behavior and environmental outcomes. The book analyzes the effectiveness of programs like the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) that require companies to publicly report their pollution emissions and environmental impacts. Through case studies and empirical research, authors Michael Kraft, Mark Stephan, and Troy Abel evaluate whether transparency initiatives actually lead to improved environmental performance by firms. The analysis covers multiple industries and regulatory contexts across the United States, examining both successful and unsuccessful applications of disclosure requirements. The book includes detailed assessments of how different stakeholders - including companies, regulators, environmental groups, and local communities - respond to and utilize environmental disclosure data. The authors integrate findings from economics, political science, and organizational behavior to understand the mechanisms through which information disclosure influences corporate environmental practices. The work presents an important contribution to ongoing debates about environmental regulation and corporate accountability in an era of increasing demands for transparency. Its conclusions have implications for policymakers and practitioners seeking to design effective disclosure-based environmental programs.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Michael Kraft's overall work: Readers praise Kraft's ability to explain complex environmental policy concepts clearly. His textbook "Environmental Policy and Politics" receives consistent feedback for its structured approach and real-world examples. Students note the book's organization makes it effective for both introductory and advanced coursework. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of policy processes - Balanced presentation of different viewpoints - Current case studies and examples - Useful tables and summaries What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style in some sections - High textbook price - Some outdated statistics in older editions - Repetitive content between chapters Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.2/5 (84 reviews) Goodreads: 3.7/5 (47 reviews) One student reviewer noted: "Kraft breaks down complex policy mechanisms into understandable components." Another commented: "The end-of-chapter questions helped connect theory to real environmental challenges." Common criticism focuses on academic density: "Could be more concise" and "Too theoretical at times."

Smart Regulationby Neil Gunningham and Peter Grabosky This book examines how different regulatory tools, including information disclosure, can be combined to achieve environmental policy goals.

Full Disclosure: The Perils and Promise of Transparency by Archon Fung, Mary Graham, and David Weil The text analyzes targeted transparency policies across multiple sectors, including environmental regulation, to determine their effectiveness in changing corporate behavior.

The Green State by Robyn Eckersley This work explores the relationship between environmental protection and democratic governance, with focus on information rights and regulatory frameworks.

Environmental Regulation and Public Disclosure by Shakeb Afsah, Allen Blackman, and Jorge H. García The book presents evidence from multiple countries on how public disclosure programs influence industrial pollution control.

Regulation by Revelation by David L. Weimer and Mark A. Zupan This work evaluates information disclosure as a policy tool through case studies of environmental and safety regulations.

🌿 This book was published in 2011 as part of MIT Press's "Environment and Sustainability" series, which examines cutting-edge research in environmental policy and science. 🏭 The research analyzed in Coming Clean shows that mandatory disclosure programs like the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) led to a 61% reduction in toxic emissions between 1988 and 2009. 📊 Author Michael Kraft spent over 30 years studying environmental policy at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and served as an advisor to the Environmental Protection Agency. 🔍 The book draws on over 30,000 facility records and interviews with plant managers to examine how public disclosure of pollution data influences corporate behavior. 🌎 Coming Clean was one of the first major academic works to demonstrate that information disclosure can be as effective as traditional regulation in achieving environmental goals, leading to new policy approaches worldwide.