IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v103y2016icp174-190.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Disentangling the causal structure behind environmental regulation

Author

Listed:
  • Blohmke, Julian
  • Kemp, René
  • Türkeli, Serdar

Abstract

Determinants of environmental regulation have been identified in different studies. The present paper takes the analysis of environmental policy determinants one step further by also studying the interaction effects between the determinants. In this article we seek to disentangle the causal structure behind environmental regulations with the help of structural equation modelling for a data set of 47 countries. Green advocacy and governance capacity come out as the main structural determinants of environmental regulation quality. Internet access is found to have a positive influence on environmental regulation through green advocacy and governance capacity. The influence of green advocacy and governance capacity on international environmental governance is through national environmental policy and not the other way, while international environmental governance is influenced by factors outside the scope of this paper. We also find that green advocacy depends more on the presence of a competitive green industry than on environmental activism, with respect to the influence on environmental policy making. Statistically, 92% of the variance of environmental policy output could be explained by our structural model, which is very high for a model incorporating only structural factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Blohmke, Julian & Kemp, René & Türkeli, Serdar, 2016. "Disentangling the causal structure behind environmental regulation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 174-190.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:103:y:2016:i:c:p:174-190
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2015.10.013
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004016251500308X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.10.013?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephen Knack & Philip Keefer, 1997. "Does Social Capital Have an Economic Payoff? A Cross-Country Investigation," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 112(4), pages 1251-1288.
    2. Margarita Kalamova & Nick Johnstone, 2012. "Environmental Policy Stringency and Foreign Direct Investment," Chapters, in: Frank Wijen & Kees Zoeteman & Jan Pieters & Paul van Seters (ed.), A Handbook of Globalisation and Environmental Policy, Second Edition, chapter 2, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Wallace E. Oates & Paul R. Portney & Wallace E. Oates & Paul R. Portney, 2004. "The Political Economy of Environmental Policy," Chapters, in: Environmental Policy and Fiscal Federalism, chapter 1, pages 3-30, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Ivan Hašèiè & Nick Johnstone & Margarita Kalamova, 2009. "Environmental Policy Flexibility, Search and Innovation," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 59(5), pages 426-441, December.
    5. Esty, Daniel C. & Porter, Michael E., 2005. "National environmental performance: an empirical analysis of policy results and determinants," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(4), pages 391-434, August.
    6. Esty, Daniel C. & Porter, Michael E., 2005. "National environmental performance: an empirical analysis of policy results and determinants," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(4), pages 381-389, August.
    7. Fredriksson, Per G. & Svensson, Jakob, 2003. "Political instability, corruption and policy formation: the case of environmental policy," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(7-8), pages 1383-1405, August.
    8. Bouma, Jetske & Bulte, Erwin & van Soest, Daan, 2008. "Trust and cooperation: Social capital and community resource management," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 155-166, September.
    9. Deserai Anderson Crow, 2010. "Policy Entrepreneurs, Issue Experts, and Water Rights Policy Change in Colorado," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 27(3), pages 299-315, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jie Tao & Weidong Cao & Yebing Fang & Yujie Liu & Xueyan Wang & Haipeng Wei, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Differences and Spatial Spillovers of China’s Green Manufacturing under Environmental Regulation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Dagestani, Abd Alwahed & Shang, Yuping & Schneider, Nicolas & Cifuentes-Faura, Javier & Zhao, Xin, 2023. "Porter in China: A quasi-experimental view of market-based environmental regulation effects on firm performance," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    3. Wang, Ailun & Hu, Shuo & Lin, Boqiang, 2021. "Can environmental regulation solve pollution problems? Theoretical model and empirical research based on the skill premium," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    4. Mai, Robert & Niemand, Thomas & Kraus, Sascha, 2021. "A tailored-fit model evaluation strategy for better decisions about structural equation models," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    5. Alex Coad & Gianluca Biggi & Elisa Giuliani, 2021. "Asbestos, leaded petrol, and other aberrations: comparing countries’ regulatory responses to disapproved products and technologies," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(2), pages 201-233, February.
    6. Wang, Haijian & Zhou, Shaojie & Zhang, Penglong, 2024. "Clean heating and clean air: Evidence from the coal-to-gas program in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    7. Huang, Youxing & Xu, Qi & Zhao, Yanping, 2021. "Short-run pain, long-run gain: Desulfurization investment and productivity," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    8. Yu, Wantao & Ramanathan, Ramakrishnan & Nath, Prithwiraj, 2017. "Environmental pressures and performance: An analysis of the roles of environmental innovation strategy and marketing capability," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 160-169.
    9. Xianpu Xu & Lingyun Huang, 2024. "How Does Environmental Protection Tax Affect Urban Energy Consumption in China? New Insights from the Intensity Difference-in-Differences Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-26, May.
    10. Abbas Mardani & Dalia Streimikiene & Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas & Fausto Cavallaro & Mehrbakhsh Nilashi & Ahmad Jusoh & Habib Zare, 2017. "Application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to Solve Environmental Sustainability Problems: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-65, October.
    11. Sungchul Kim & Dongsik Jang & Sunghae Jun & Sangsung Park, 2015. "A Novel Forecasting Methodology for Sustainable Management of Defense Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-17, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Abid, Mehdi, 2016. "Impact of economic, financial, and institutional factors on CO2 emissions: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa economies," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 85-94.
    2. Panteli Maria & Delipalla Sofia, 2022. "The Impact of Institutions on Economic and Environmental Performance: Evidence From Europe," South East European Journal of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 17(2), pages 125-141, December.
    3. Halkos, George E. & Tzeremes, Nickolaos G., 2014. "Public sector transparency and countries’ environmental performance: A nonparametric analysis," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 19-37.
    4. Marcel Probst & Caspar Sauter, 2015. "CO2 Emissions and Greenhouse Gas Policy Stringency - An Empirical Assessment," IRENE Working Papers 15-03, IRENE Institute of Economic Research.
    5. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/f6h8764enu2lskk9p544jc8op is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Nicolli, Francesco & Vona, Francesco, 2012. "The Evolution of Renewable Energy Policy in OECD Countries: Aggregate Indicators and Determinants," Climate Change and Sustainable Development 130897, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    7. Nicolli, Francesco & Vona, Francesco, 2019. "Energy market liberalization and renewable energy policies in OECD countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 853-867.
    8. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/53r60a8s3kup1vc9k0sk04p9n is not listed on IDEAS
    9. repec:hal:wpspec:info:hdl:2441/f6h8764enu2lskk9p544jc8op is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Francesco Vona & Francesco Nicolli, 2013. "Energy market liberalisation and renewable energy policies in OECD countries," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-00973070, HAL.
    11. Jesús Peiró-Palomino & Andrés J. Picazo-Tadeo, 2019. "Is Social Capital Green? Cultural Features and Environmental Performance in the European Union," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 72(3), pages 795-822, March.
    12. Wen-Lin Wu, 2017. "Institutional Quality and Air Pollution: International Evidence," International Journal of Business and Economics, School of Management Development, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan, vol. 16(1), pages 49-74, June.
    13. repec:spo:wpecon:info:hdl:2441/f6h8764enu2lskk9p544jc8op is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Shouro Dasgupta & Enrica De Cian, 2016. "Institutions and the Environment: Existing Evidence and Future Directions," Working Papers 2016.41, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    15. Francesco Nicolli & Francesco Vona, 2012. "The evolution of renewable energy policy in OECD countries: aggregate indicators and determinants," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03461247, HAL.
    16. Dincer, Oguzhan C. & Fredriksson, Per G., 2018. "Corruption and environmental regulatory policy in the United States: Does trust matter?," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 212-225.
    17. Elissaios Papyrakis, 2013. "Environmental Performance in Socially Fragmented Countries," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 55(1), pages 119-140, May.
    18. Li, Zhi & Ouyang, Xiaoling & Du, Kerui & Zhao, Yang, 2017. "Does government transparency contribute to improved eco-efficiency performance? An empirical study of 262 cities in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 79-89.
    19. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/53r60a8s3kup1vc9k0sk04p9n is not listed on IDEAS
    20. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/f6h8764enu2lskk9p544jc8op is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Daniel Fiorino, 2011. "Explaining national environmental performance: approaches, evidence, and implications," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 44(4), pages 367-389, November.
    22. Galinato, Gregmar I. & Chouinard, Hayley H., 2018. "Strategic interaction and institutional quality determinants of environmental regulations," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 114-132.
    23. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/f6h8764enu2lskk9p4oq2cqb0 is not listed on IDEAS
    24. Fredriksson, Per G. & Vollebergh, Herman R. J. & Dijkgraaf, Elbert, 2004. "Corruption and energy efficiency in OECD countries: theory and evidence," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 207-231, March.
    25. Cosmina L. Voinea & Bas-Jan Hoogenberg & Cosmin Fratostiteanu & Hammad Bin Azam Hashmi, 2020. "The Relation between Environmental Management Systems and Environmental and Financial Performance in Emerging Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-21, July.
    26. Alvin Etang, 2008. "Modelling the Effects of Socio-Economic Characteristics on Survey Trust: Empirical Evidence from Cameroon," Working Papers 0808, University of Otago, Department of Economics, revised Oct 2008.
    27. Nesta, Lionel & Vona, Francesco & Nicolli, Francesco, 2014. "Environmental policies, competition and innovation in renewable energy," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 396-411.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:103:y:2016:i:c:p:174-190. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.