DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC-THEORY ON FISHERIES REGULATION

A survey of the economic literature of fisheries regulation shows that little of analytical value for the comparison of alternative regulatory techniques has emerged. The suggestion that the general literature on regulation, and on public choice, has something to contribute to the understanding of alternative regimes produces eight criteria. These are applied to the choice between two systems of restricting entry: a tax, and quotas. The transactions costs of the two systems are also investigated. The hypothesis is formed that the eight criteria, plus expected transaction costs, give the edge to a quota system; but this is only illustrative of the approach. -Author