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COVID-19 Regulations, Political Institutions, and the Environment

Author

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  • Per G. Fredriksson

    (University of Louisville)

  • Aatishya Mohanty

    (Nanyang Technological University)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with short-term air quality improvements in many countries around the world. We study whether the degree of democracy and political institutions played a role. We provide novel empirical evidence from 119 countries. A given stringency of COVID-19 containment and closure policies had a stronger effect on air quality in more democratic countries, and in countries with majoritarian rather than proportional electoral rules. Our estimates suggest that the improvement in air quality was around 57% greater in majoritarian systems than in proportional systems. Confidence in government, trust in politicians, and social capital also affected outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Per G. Fredriksson & Aatishya Mohanty, 2022. "COVID-19 Regulations, Political Institutions, and the Environment," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 81(2), pages 323-353, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:enreec:v:81:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s10640-021-00628-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-021-00628-z
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Infectious disease; Democracy; Electoral system; Institutions; Confidence in government; Trust; Social capital; Rally effect;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government

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