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Environmental Pressure Group Strength and Air Pollution: An Empirical Analysis

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  • Seth Binder
  • Eric Neumayer

Abstract

There is an established theoretical and empirical case-study literature arguing that environmental pressure groups have a real impact on pollution levels. Our original contribution to this literature is to provide the first systematic quantitative test of the strength of environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) on air pollution levels. We find that ENGO strength exerts a statistically significant impact on sulfur dioxide, smoke and heavy particulates concentration levels in a cross-country time-series regression analysis. This result holds true both for ordinary least squares and random-effects estimation. It is robust to controlling for the potential endogeneity of ENGO strength with the help of instrumental variables. The effect is also substantively important. Strengthening ENGOs represents an important strategy by which aid donors, foundations, international organizations and other stakeholders can try to achieve lower pollution levels around the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Seth Binder & Eric Neumayer, 2003. "Environmental Pressure Group Strength and Air Pollution: An Empirical Analysis," Others 0312003, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 25 Oct 2004.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpot:0312003
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    civil society; non-governmental organizations; environmental groups; lobbying; environmental policy.;
    All these keywords.

    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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