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An empirical analysis of fatal crimes against environmental and land activists

Author

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  • Chris Jeffords

    (IUP)

  • Alexi Thompson

    (IUP)

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the presence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between fatal crimes against environmental and land activists and income per capita for a group of 34 countries from 2002-2013. Using panel data estimation techniques, the results are robust to controlling for rule of law, control of corruption, deforestation, homicide rates, and natural resource dependence. We thus provide evidence of a relationship between economic growth and the safety of environmental activists, where at some point in country's economic development environmental murders decrease with additional income. Furthermore, our results offer support to the findings of the Fifth Assessment Report of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which imply that physical security in the context of environmental disputes is likely an environmental amenity which is increasingly in demand, especially as incomes grow. Additional results suggest that the background level of fatal crimes (excluding environmental murders) is positively related to environmental murders and the relationship between increased forest cover and environmental murders can be positive or negative thereby confounding forestry-based policy recommendations.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Jeffords & Alexi Thompson, 2016. "An empirical analysis of fatal crimes against environmental and land activists," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 36(2), pages 827-842.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-15-00335
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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