What Accounts for Cross-National Variation in Environmental Policy Stringency?

Author: Madison Lynch

Field of Study: Philosophy, Politics and Law

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Wendy Martinek

Easel: 18

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: This study examines what accounts for the puzzling variation in environmental policy stringency (EPS) across nations. EPS refers to the strictness of the design and enforcement of environmental regulations across nations. Although prior research examines cross-national differences in EPS, a gap remains in determining the key drivers of this variation. This study investigates whether a nation’s level of development and degree of political corruption influence its EPS. This study draws on EPS data from 40 different OECD countries along with measures from the Human Development Index and Corruption Perceptions Index to evaluate these relationships. Understanding the sources of variation in EPS is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of environmental policy and informing the development of productive international climate agreements. Without a clear understanding of these drivers, it is difficult to assess whether environmental policies are appropriately designed to meet environmental targets.