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Europeanisation and the Uneven Convergence of Environmental Policy: Explaining the Geography of EMAS

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  • Richard Perkins

    (School of Geography, University of Plymouth, 8-11 Kirkby Place, Plymouth PL4 8AA, England)

  • Eric Neumayer

    (Department of Geography and Environment, and Centre for Environmental Policy and Governance, London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, England)

Abstract

In this paper we seek to advance current understanding of uneven convergence in the context of EU environmental policy, and specifically, the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). Using a large-sample, quantitative methodology, we examine three broad sets of determinants hypothesised to influence geographic patterns of policy convergence: (1) cross-national market integration; (2) compatibility between the domestic regulatory context and European policy requirements; and (3) bottom-up pressure from market and societal actors. Our analysis provides empirical support for all three hypothesised determinants. Measures of import–export ties, regulatory burden, past policy adoptions, environmental demand from civil society, and levels of economic productivity are all found to be statistically significant predictors of national EMAS counts. Against a backdrop of geographically diverse regulatory institutions, societal conditions, and trading relationships, we conclude that unevenness is an inevitable feature of Europeanisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Perkins & Eric Neumayer, 2004. "Europeanisation and the Uneven Convergence of Environmental Policy: Explaining the Geography of EMAS," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 22(6), pages 881-897, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:22:y:2004:i:6:p:881-897
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    Cited by:

    1. Patrícia Tourais & Nuno Videira, 2016. "Why, How and What do Organizations Achieve with the Implementation of Environmental Management Systems?—Lessons from a Comprehensive Review on the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-25, March.
    2. R. Bracke & T. Verbeke & V. Dejonckheere, 2007. "What distinguishes EMAS participants? An exploration of company characteristics," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 07/459, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    3. Stefan Borsky & Esther Blanco, 2014. "Setting one voluntary standard in a heterogeneous Europe - EMAS, corruption and stringency of environmental regulations," Working Papers 2014-29, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
    4. Mirela Xheneti & John Kitching, 2011. "From Discourse to Implementation: Enterprise Policy Development in Postcommunist Albania," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 29(6), pages 1018-1036, December.
    5. Bracke, Roeland & Verbeke, Tom & Dejonckheere, Veerle, 2007. "What Distinguishes EMAS Participants? An Exploration of Company Characteristics," Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Management Working Papers 9332, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    6. Flannery, Wesley & O’Hagan, Anne Marie & O’Mahony, Cathal & Ritchie, Heather & Twomey, Sarah, 2015. "Evaluating conditions for transboundary Marine Spatial Planning: Challenges and opportunities on the island of Ireland," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 86-95.
    7. Richard Perkins & Eric Neumayer, 2010. "Geographic Variations in the Early Diffusion of Corporate Voluntary Standards: Comparing ISO 14001 and the Global Compact," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 42(2), pages 347-365, February.
    8. Les Levidow & Susan Carr, 2007. "Europeanising Advisory Expertise: The Role of ‘Independent, Objective, and Transparent’ Scientific Advice in Agri-Biotech Regulation," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 25(6), pages 880-895, December.
    9. R. Bracke & J. Albrecht, 2005. "Explaining the international diffusion of environmental management systems," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 05/342, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    10. Martin Thomas Falk & Eva Hagsten, 2020. "Time for carbon neutrality and other emission reduction measures at European airports," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1448-1464, March.
    11. Richard Perkins & Eric Neumayer, 2008. "Fostering Environment Efficiency through Transnational Linkages? Trajectories of CO2 and SO2, 1980–2000," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 40(12), pages 2970-2989, December.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • P - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems
    • Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics
    • Z - Other Special Topics

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