Environmental Science
Bureaucratic Discretion in Environmental Regulation Implementation
Quick fact
Bureaucrats often have significant latitude in enforcing environmental laws, meaning that a factory's environmental compliance can depend as much on the local inspector's judgment as on the law itself.
Why this is interesting
You might think that once a law like the Clean Water Act is passed, it is simply put into effect. But have you ever wondered why some factories seem to get away with pollution while others are fined heavily?