Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/74075 
Year of Publication: 
2005
Series/Report no.: 
Nota di Lavoro No. 8.2005
Publisher: 
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Milano
Abstract: 
Both theoretical and empirical studies have shown that democracy and corruption have substantial influence on environmental policy. In this paper, we empirically analyse whether both democracy and corruption are equally important determinants. When these variables are jointly included as explanatory variables, we find that corruption stands out as an important determinant of environmental policies, while democracy has a very limited impact. Further on, we discuss our results in the context of the Environmental Kuznets Curve literature. We argue that institutional disarray that plagues developing countries will make it problematic for them to have increasing environmental policy stringency combined with increasing incomes. Finally, and more optimistically, when we consider our results in the context of institutions and growth, we conclude that there is a possibility of reaching a double dividend. Reductions in corruption would induce both higher growth rates and stricter environmental policies. Thus, institutional improvement is an extremely valuable step in achieving sustainable development.
Subjects: 
Corruption
Democracy
Development
Environmental policy
Institutions
JEL: 
H40
D73
Q56
Q58
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.