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The Brazilian Amazon’s Double Reversal of Fortune

Author

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  • Burgess, Robin
  • Costa, Francisco J M

    (FGV EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance)

  • Olken, Ben

Abstract

We use high-resolution satellite data to determine how Amazonian deforestation changes discretely at the Brazilian international border. We document two dramatic reversals. In 2000, Brazilian pixels were 37 percent more likely to be deforested, and between 2001 and 2005 annual Brazilian deforestation was more than three times the rate observed across the border. In 2006, just after Brazil introduced policies to reduce deforestation, these differences disappear. However, from 2014, amid a period of economic crisis and deteriorating commitment to environmental regulation, Brazilian deforestation rates jump back up to near pre-reform levels. These results demonstrate the power of the state to affect whether wilderness ecosystems are conserved or exploited.

Suggested Citation

  • Burgess, Robin & Costa, Francisco J M & Olken, Ben, 2019. "The Brazilian Amazon’s Double Reversal of Fortune," SocArXiv 67xg5, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:67xg5
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/67xg5
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    Cited by:

    1. Neal, Timothy, 2024. "Estimating the effectiveness of forest protection using regression discontinuity," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    2. De Los Rios, Camilo, 2022. "The double fence: Overlapping institutions and deforestation in the Colombian Amazon," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    3. Araujo, Rafael & Costa, Francisco J M & Sant'Anna, Marcelo, 2020. "Efficient Forestation in the Brazilian Amazon: Evidence from a Dynamic Model," SocArXiv 8yfr7, Center for Open Science.
    4. Maria Alice Moz-Christofoletti & Paula Carvalho Pereda & Wesley Campanharo, 2022. "Does Decentralized and Voluntary Commitment Reduce Deforestation? The Effects of Programa Municípios Verdes," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 82(1), pages 65-100, May.
    5. Harka, Elona & Nunziata, Luca & Rocco, Lorenzo, 2021. "The Alabaster Ceiling: The Gender Legacy of the Papal States," IZA Discussion Papers 14719, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Aidt, Toke S. & Albornoz, Facundo & Hauk, Esther, 2024. "To cut or not to cut: Deforestation policy under the shadow of foreign influence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    7. He, Brian Y. & Zhou, Jinkai & Ma, Ziyi & Chow, Joseph Y.J. & Ozbay, Kaan, 2020. "Evaluation of city-scale built environment policies in New York City with an emerging-mobility-accessible synthetic population," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 444-467.
    8. João Pedro Vieira & Ricardo Dahis & Juliano Assunção, 2023. "The Role of Sanctions and Spillovers in Forest Conservation," Monash Economics Working Papers 2023-16, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    9. Dahis, Ricardo & de las Heras, Iván & Saavedra, Santiago, 2022. "Politicians' Age and Long-Term Policy: Evidence from Brazilian Municipalities," SocArXiv h5tn2, Center for Open Science.
    10. Albuquerque Sant'Anna, André & Costa, Lucas, 2021. "Environmental regulation and bail outs under weak state capacity: Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon11The authors gratefully acknowledge Antonio Ambrózio, Juliano Assunção, Arthur Bragança, Filipe ," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    11. Bård Harstad, 2023. "The Conservation Multiplier," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 131(7), pages 1731-1771.
    12. Ricardo Dahis & Ivan de las Heras & Santiago Saavedra, 2023. "Young Politicians and Long-Term Policy," Documentos de Trabajo 20694, Universidad del Rosario.
    13. Bård Harstad, 2022. "Trade, Trees, and Contingent Trade Agreements," CESifo Working Paper Series 9596, CESifo.
    14. Harwood, Stephen & Eaves, Sally, 2020. "Conceptualising technology, its development and future: The six genres of technology," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    15. Bård Harstad, 2020. "Trade and Trees: How Trade Agreements Can Motivate Conservation Instead of Depletion," CESifo Working Paper Series 8569, CESifo.
    16. Fernandes, Bernardo de Barros & Ferreira, Pedro Cavalcanti, 2023. "Network and general equilibrium effects of carbon taxes and deforestation," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 833, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    17. Vieira, João Pedro & Dahis, Ricardo & Assunção, Juliano, 2023. "From Deforestation to Reforestation: The Role of General Deterrence in Changing Farmers' Behavior," SocArXiv vqpkm, Center for Open Science.
    18. Carreira, Igor & Costa, Francisco & Pessoa, João Paulo, 2024. "The deforestation effects of trade and agricultural productivity in Brazil," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    19. Humberto Laudares & Pedro Henrique Gagliardi, 2020. "Is Deforestation Spreading COVID-19 to the Indigenous Peoples?," Working Papers 08, Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde.

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