Environmental regulation, taxes, and activism

Abstract

Social activism is a burgeoning human response to pressing problems around the world, and nowhere is this response more apparent than in the ongoing global push back against environmental externalities. In this article, we explore—for the first time—whether there are degrees of activism that relate to degrees of regulatory stringency. Using data on environmental conflicts resulting from fossil fuel production across 68 countries over the period 1995–2014, we find that, for a given tax rate, a move from a lax to more stringent regime lowers the rate of environmental conflicts. These findings underscore the contingent role of policy stringency as a trigger for intense social movements.

Green Growth or Red Tape? Unraveling the Interconnected Effects of Stringent Environmental Regulations and Bribery on Enterprise Growth

“…In developing economies, given the limited prevalence of environmental tax (Xie et al, 2017), environmental regulatory bodies mainly rely on command-and-control policy instrument (Blackman et al, 2018). The WEF's dataset captures both tax base and non-tax base environmental regulations (Adetutu et al, 2023).…”

Pollution risk and life insurance decisions: Microgeographic evidence from the United Kingdom

“…Environmental pollution-the classic negative externalityposes a considerable risk to human well-being and economic livelihoods. Air pollution leads to poor health (Chen et al, 2013;Dockery et al, 1993;Pope et al, 2002;Seaton et al, 1995) and adverse economic outcomes such as reduced worker productivity, lower income, higher conflict incidence, and criminal activity (Adetutu et al, 2023;Binder & Neumayer, 2005;Herrnstadt et al, 2021;Maddison, 2005;Samakovlis et al, 2005;Zivin & Neidell, 2012).…”