Which regulation system for polluting activities? - the case of mobile sources of atmospheric pollution

This research thesis addresses the search for a regulation system for polluting activities at the origin or atmospheric pollution, mainly pollution by ozone. The author notably studies answers given by the EU during the 1990's to this problem in order to assess these pollutions. After a presentation of the economic framework necessary to solve this issue, the author reports his search for evolutions of this framework. Through an economic analysis, tools of environmental policies can be classified according to two typologies: market instruments (tax or negotiable emission permits), and regulatory instruments. These instruments are compared, notably in terms of efficiency with respect to their ability to promote technological innovation. Then, the author focuses on tensions between the public authority and industrials submitted to this regulation, and shows that job creation may become the main issue, and the protection of the environment the poor relative of public policy. In the next part, the author addresses the specific case of ozone as a controversial environmental problem which involves the public authority, and the oil, automotive and agriculture worlds. He discusses the search for legitimacy of bio-fuels.