The purpose of this research is to develop and evaluate alternative theories of alliance behavior, and to apply the theory of alliances and spillovers to the study of global collective action, including treaty formulation and adherence. In particular, the noncooperative behavior among nations confronted with common pollution problems is analyzed. Various strategic behavioral alternatives and their impact on resource allocation are examined. In addition, institutional arrangements to elicit cooperation are examined, while accounting for transaction costs of a fixed and variable nature. Alliance models will be applied to analyze the determinants of participation in the 1987 Montreal Protocol on CFC emission reductions. Further, the degree to which cooperative behavior was practiced by the signatories' actions after the agreement will also be studied. This research on cooperative behavior for mitigating pollution is extremely important and timely given the heightened concern about attaining better global cooperation for reducing atmospheric pollution and the possibility for catastrophic global warming.
