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Wilderness Conservation and the Reach of the State: Evidence from National Borders in the Amazon

Author

Listed:
  • Robin Burgess
  • Francisco J.M. Costa
  • Benjamin A. Olken

Abstract

Preserving wilderness ecosystems in developing countries is challenging because their remote location places them far from state control. We investigate this using 30x30 meter satellite data to determine how Amazonian deforestation changes discretely at the Brazilian international border. In 2000, Brazilian pixels were 30 percent more likely to be deforested, and between 2001 and 2005 annual Brazilian deforestation was more than 3 times the rate observed across the border. In 2006, just after Brazil introduces policies to reduce illegal deforestation, these differences disappear. These results demonstrate the power of the state to affect whether wilderness ecosystems are conserved or exploited.

Suggested Citation

  • Robin Burgess & Francisco J.M. Costa & Benjamin A. Olken, 2018. "Wilderness Conservation and the Reach of the State: Evidence from National Borders in the Amazon," NBER Working Papers 24861, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:24861
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Frederik Noack & Ashley Larsen & Johannes Kamp & Christian Levers, 2022. "A bird's eye view of farm size and biodiversity: The ecological legacy of the iron curtain," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(4), pages 1460-1484, August.
    2. David Wuepper & Robert Finger, 2023. "Regression discontinuity designs in agricultural and environmental economics," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(1), pages 1-28.
    3. Costa, Lucas & Sant'Anna, André Albuquerque & Young, Carlos Eduardo Frickmann, 2023. "Barren lives: drought shocks and agricultural vulnerability in the Brazilian Semi-Arid," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 28(6), pages 603-623, December.
    4. Araujo, Rafael & Costa, Francisco J M & Garg, Teevrat, 2022. "Public Attention and Environmental Action: Evidence from Fires in the Amazon," SocArXiv xj3f6, Center for Open Science.
    5. André Albuquerque Sant’Anna & Lucas Costa, 2019. "Bailing out environmental liabilities: moral hazard and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon," Documentos de Trabajo 17435, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA).
    6. Masayuki Kudamatsu, 2019. "Observing Economic Growth in Unrecognized States with Nighttime Light," OSIPP Discussion Paper 19E002, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    7. Albuquerque Sant'Anna, André & Costa, Lucas, 2021. "Environmental regulation and bail outs under weak state capacity: Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon11The authors gratefully acknowledge Antonio Ambrózio, Juliano Assunção, Arthur Bragança, Filipe ," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    8. Bonilla-Mejía, Leonardo & Higuera-Mendieta, Iván, 2019. "Protected Areas under Weak Institutions: Evidence from Colombia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 585-596.
    9. Humberto Laudares & Pedro Henrique Gagliardi, 2020. "Is Deforestation Spreading COVID-19 to the Indigenous Peoples?," Working Papers 08, Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde.
    10. Moffette, Fanny & Skidmore, Marin & Gibbs, Holly K., 2021. "Environmental policies that shape productivity: Evidence from cattle ranching in the Amazon," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q23 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Forestry

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