CRISIS PERCEPTION AND POLICY OUTCOMES: COMPARISON BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE CRISES

The impetus for the beginning of the modern environmental movement was the publication of "Silent Spring" in 1962. The publication of "America in Ruins" in 1981 was an attempt to draw similar attention to the infrastructure crisis. This paper compares and contrasts the issues presented in these two publications and reviews their respective roles in documenting and publicizing issues regarding the natural and built environments. The public perception of crisis and the related public policies are also examined in the context of publications and related legislation. A discussion of the differences and similarities focuses on the importance of future directions. Priority issues for future investigation include establishing priorities between increased financing and improving the use of existing resources and examining the link between the natural and built environments as it relates to sustainability. Lessons learned from an analysis of the environmental and infrastructure crises include recognition of broad-based support and relation of the issues to the public's fear for personal health and safety.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10760342
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Stanford, K L
  • Tarr, J A
  • McNeil, S
• Publication Date: 1995-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 195-203
• Serial:
  • Journal of Infrastructure Systems
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1076-0342
  • EISSN: 1943-555X
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jitse4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Biodeterioration; Documents; Environment; Infrastructure; Laws and legislation; Policy making
• Uncontrolled Terms: Publications
• Old TRIS Terms: Crisis perception
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Economics; Highways; Law; Policy; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00714679
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 28 1995 12:00AM