The Aftermath of BP Gulf Spill: Reforming a Deficient Safety Culture and Regulatory System Through Consumer Pressure
Abstract
In 2010, the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico cast doubt on the efficacy of oil regulation
and the future of offshore drilling. In this paper, I examine the causes and ramifications
of the BP spill in the context of oil regulation and industry safety culture. I argue
that the spill resulted from a deficient safety culture, poor regulatory oversight,
and negligible prioritization of the environmental and safety protocol. To correct
the incentive schemes and safety culture of the oil industry, I propose a model that
utilizes consumer pressure to incentivize companies to maximize environmentally responsible
production. Ultimately, disclosing the environmentally records of oil companies can
capture environmentally minded consumers and align the best interests of the industry
with environmental stewardship.
Description
2011 Public Policy Honors Thesis
Type
Honors thesisDepartment
Public Policy StudiesSubject
BP gulf spillInformation Provision
Environmental Regulation
Environmental Protection
Safety Culture
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/4953Citation
Ward, Rebecca (2011). The Aftermath of BP Gulf Spill: Reforming a Deficient Safety Culture and Regulatory
System Through Consumer Pressure. Honors thesis, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/4953.Collections
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