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Waste Management in the Spanish Municipalities: Is Commitment to Local Agenda 21 more than good Intentions?

Author

Listed:
  • Navarro-Espigares, José Luis

    (University of Granada)

  • Martín-Segura, José Aureliano

    (University of Granada)

  • Pérez-López, César

    (Complutense University of Madrid)

  • Maraver-Tarifa, Guillermo

    (University of Granada)

Abstract

Spain is one of the European countries with more municipalities adhering to the Local Agenda 21 (LA21). Environmental spending exerts a great influence on implementing LA21. But some authors raise doubts about the firm commitment of local governments to LA21 objectives. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to verify whether political commitment is backed up with action towards meeting the objectives of sustainable development by means of budgetary support for waste management policies. To accomplish this, we applied the Difference in Differences technique for the period 2002-2012 in the Spanish municipalities. Our initial results confirmed the original hypotheses and showed that local governments that adhered to LA21 were genuinely committed to achieving at least one LA21 goal and offering greater budgetary support for waste management. However, the sensitivity analysis revealed unexpectedly ambiguous evidence about the research question, in that we observed a great volatility of results depending on the sample and dependent variables chosen.

Suggested Citation

  • Navarro-Espigares, José Luis & Martín-Segura, José Aureliano & Pérez-López, César & Maraver-Tarifa, Guillermo, 2018. "Waste Management in the Spanish Municipalities: Is Commitment to Local Agenda 21 more than good Intentions?," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 40, pages 35-56.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:invreg:0364
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Local Agenda 21; waste management; difference in differences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • H72 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Budget and Expenditures
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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