Environmentalism, democracy, and pollution control

Abstract

This paper makes two empirical contributions to the literature, based on predictions generated by a lobby group model. First, we investigate how environmental lobby groups affect the determination of environmental policy in rich and developing countries. Second, we explore the interaction between democratic participation and political (electoral) competition. The empirical findings suggest that environmental lobby groups tend to positively affect the stringency of environmental policy. Moreover, political competition tends to raise policy stringency, in particular where citizens' participation in the democratic process is widespread.

Education and the Political Economy of Environmental Protection

“…These multiple equilibria, linking environmental quality and level of education, can be backed up by some empirical evidence, which show that more educated economies are likely to exhibit better environmental conditions (see, for instance, Magnani (2000), Bimonte (2002), Fredriksson et al (2005), Farzin & Bond (2006)). As shown previously, this positive relationship may be micro-founded.…”

“…This recent evolution may be explained by a lot of both socio-economic and political factors like, for instance, income, health, education, age, sex, democracy, etc. (see Fredriksson et al (2005), Farzin & Bond (2006)). Focusing on the relationship between the level of education and this stronger concern for the environment, we can observe a positive causal link at a microeconomic level.…”

Trust, Cooperation, and Implementation of Sustainability Programs: The Case of Local Agenda 21

“…Fredriksson, Neumayer, Damania, and Gates (2005) examine lead content in gasoline for 104 developing and industrialized countries. Damania, Fredriksson, and List (2003) also study the determination of lead content per gallon of gasoline in a panel of 48 developing and developed countries.…”

Local Environmental Non-Profit Organizations and the Green Investment Strategies of Family Firms

“…At macro level, extant research suggests that the demand from civil society, either direct or channeled by non-governmental organizations (a specific type of NPOs), can foster countries' environmental performance (Bernauer et al, 2013;Fredriksson et al, 2005;Neumayer and Perkins, 2004). Environmental NGOs can exert pressure both on governments by promoting the ratification, enforcement and compliance of international treaties and national regulations.…”

“…The few aggregate analyses, which have investigated the role of local societal stakeholders as a relevant force driving firms' environmental behavior, have either focused on local communities, or bundled ENPOs together with other societal stakeholders (Aden et al, 1999;Bernauer et al, 2013;Cribb, 1990;Epstein and Schnietz, 2002;Fredriksson et al, 2005;Neumayer and Perkins, 2004;Triguero et al, 2013). The distinctive role of ENPOs gains great relevance in connection to different organizational forms and to family firms especially, because these are the dominant organizational form around the world (Gersick et al, 1997;Porta et al, 1999) and have been found to be more responsive to local societal pressure (Berrone et al, 2010;Gómez-Mejía et al, 2007).…”