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Environmental Policymaking with Political Learning

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  • Blumenthal, Benjamin

Abstract

Effectively tackling environmental problems requires the implementation of appropriate policies by politicians. I propose a model of electoral accountability in which voters learn about politicians' policy preferences and environmental policies' appropriateness by observing past policy choices and outcomes. Compared to a benevolent policymaker benchmark, I show that reputational concerns can lead to suboptimal policymaking, as a result of the interdependence between voters' learning about implemented policies and their induced preferences over politicians: when favourable policy outcomes lead voters to prefer policy persistence, the desire to appear responsive can stifle the implementation of the right environmental policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Blumenthal, Benjamin, 2024. "Environmental Policymaking with Political Learning," SocArXiv trn8u, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:trn8u
    DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/trn8u
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cremer, Helmuth & De Donder, Philippe & Gahvari, Firouz, 2008. "Political competition within and between parties: An application to environmental policy," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(3-4), pages 532-547, April.
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