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Environmental Regulation and Enforcement: Structures, Processes and the Use of Data for Fraud Detection

Author

Listed:
  • Louie Rivers

    (#xA7;Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA)

  • Tamara Dempsey

    (School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Jade Mitchell

    (#x2020;Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Carole Gibbs

    (#x2021;School of Criminal Justice and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

Abstract

Several major environmental programmes require regulated entities to measure and self-report pollutant levels to state regulatory agencies. This data is used to assess compliance, but critics suggest that it could be used more effectively to detect fraud in self-reports, a criminal offense. Efforts to develop and implement fraud detection tools are restricted by a lack of knowledge regarding how regulatory and enforcement systems operate in regulatory agencies and whether/how data is used, particularly for fraud detection. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a case study of these issues in one state environmental agency. We triangulate interview, focus group and observational data to describe the current system and assess points in the system in which data is being used. We draw upon organisational learning theory to suggest the ways to use data more effectively in the future, particularly to improve fraud detection.

Suggested Citation

  • Louie Rivers & Tamara Dempsey & Jade Mitchell & Carole Gibbs, 2015. "Environmental Regulation and Enforcement: Structures, Processes and the Use of Data for Fraud Detection," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(04), pages 1-29, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jeapmx:v:17:y:2015:i:04:n:s1464333215500337
    DOI: 10.1142/S1464333215500337
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xu Dong & Yali Yang & Qinqin Zhuang & Weili Xie & Xiaomeng Zhao, 2022. "Does Environmental Regulation Help Mitigate Factor Misallocation?—Theoretical Simulations Based on a Dynamic General Equilibrium Model and the Perspective of TFP," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-21, March.

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