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Green Governments

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  • Niklas Potrafke
  • Kaspar Wüthrich

Abstract

We examine how Green governments influence environmental, macroeconomic, and education outcomes. We exploit that the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan gave rise to an unanticipated change in government in the German state Baden-Wuerttemberg in 2011. Using the synthetic control method, we find no evidence that the Green government influenced CO2 emissions or increased renewable energy usage overall. The share of wind power usage even decreased. Intra-ecological conflicts prevented the Green government from implementing drastic changes in environmental policies. The results do not suggest that the Green government influenced macroeconomic outcomes. Inclusive education policies caused comprehensive schools to become larger.

Suggested Citation

  • Niklas Potrafke & Kaspar Wüthrich, 2020. "Green Governments," CESifo Working Paper Series 8726, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_8726
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    climate change; Green parties; partisan politics; Fukushima nuclear disaster; energy and environmental policies; renewable energies; macroeconomic performance; comprehensive schools.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • E65 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Studies of Particular Policy Episodes
    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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