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Environmental decentralization and political centralization

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  • Fredriksson, Per G.
  • Wollscheid, Jim R.

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate how political institutions affect policy outcomes. In particular, does the level of political centralization affect the outcome of environmental decentralization? We use a cross section of up to 110 countries and a propensity score estimation approach. We find that political centralization, measured by the strength of national level political parties, increases the stringency of environmental policies set under decentralized regimes.

Suggested Citation

  • Fredriksson, Per G. & Wollscheid, Jim R., 2014. "Environmental decentralization and political centralization," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 402-410.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:107:y:2014:i:c:p:402-410
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.09.019
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental regulations; Policy; Spillovers; Environmental federalism; Decentralization; Political institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies

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