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Development and pollution in the Middle East and North Africa: Democracy matters

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  • Farzanegan, Mohammad Reza
  • Markwardt, Gunther

Abstract

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries are among the world’s top emitters of CO2 and SO2 in per capita terms. The objective of this paper is to analyze whether investing in the democratic development of these countries is an effective tool to make the economic development in this region more environmentally compatible. Using panel data on the income-emission-democracy nexus in 17 MENA countries from 1980 to 2005, we find evidence that improvements in the democratic development of the MENA countries help to mitigate environmental problems. Our results clearly show that the quality of democratic institutions has a greater influence on local environmental problems than on global environmental issues in the MENA region.

Suggested Citation

  • Farzanegan, Mohammad Reza & Markwardt, Gunther, 2018. "Development and pollution in the Middle East and North Africa: Democracy matters," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 350-374.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:40:y:2018:i:2:p:350-374
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2018.01.010
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    20. Andreas Kammerlander, 2022. "Economic Growth and Pollution in different Political Regimes," Discussion Paper Series 43, Department of International Economic Policy, University of Freiburg, revised Oct 2022.
    21. Acheampong, Alex O. & Dzator, Janet & Savage, David A., 2021. "Renewable energy, CO2 emissions and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa: Does institutional quality matter?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 1070-1093.
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    23. Markwardt, Gunther & Hecker, Lutz & Wätzold, Frank, 2019. "Spotlight on spatial environmental policy spillovers: An econometric analysis of wastewater treatment in Mexican municipalities," VfS Annual Conference 2019 (Leipzig): 30 Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall - Democracy and Market Economy 203627, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Democratic development; Political institutions; Environmental quality; MENA;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies

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