The use of international agreements in transnational environmental protection

International environmental agreements (IEAs) offer a potent method for addressing environmental issues that transgress national borders, but realizing this capability has proven difficult in many cases. In the tradition of economic research in this field, the papers in this issue contribute to the elucidation of the barriers to and conditions for achieving effective agreements. This paper places the others in this issue in the context of the literature, employing a conceptual framework that captures the essential features of the processes necessary for effective collective action among countries, and highlights areas for further research. It is argued that more empirical research is required to complement the theoretical approach of much of the literature. Such research might not only assess the relevance of theoretical findings but also elucidate influences on the behaviour of country representatives such as pressures deriving from the values and attitudes of their constituencies.