scholarly journals Helpful Organizations: Membership in Inter-Governmental Organizations and Environmental Quality in Developing Countries

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Spilker
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Political System ◽  
General Idea ◽  
Intergovernmental Organizations ◽  
Governmental Organizations

Does membership in intergovernmental organizations help developing countries enhance their environmental performance? This article argues that IGO membership can improve the environmental performance of developing countries, by linking different issues, promoting the general idea of environmental sustainability and providing a channel through which these countries receive technologies and resources necessary to reduce pollution. This argument has been tested on panel data for 114 developing countries in 1970–2000. The results confirm that, controlling for a country's income and its political system, IGO membership is indeed associated with a reduction in both air pollution and greenhouse gases. To understand the mechanisms behind this result better, IGO membership is disaggregated according to both function and the degree of institutionalization of the respective organization.

Air pollution and public finance: evidence for European countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1398-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Carratù ◽  
Bruno Chiarini ◽  
Antonella D’Agostino ◽  
Elisabetta Marzano ◽  
Andrea Regoli
Keyword(s):  
Public Finance ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Fiscal Consolidation ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a statistically significant relationship exists between environmental quality, as measured by consumption-related air pollution, and public debt in Europe. In addition, since the debt burden is one of the most important indicators of fiscal soundness within the European Union (EU) Treaty and the subsequent fiscal compact, the authors propose a simple test to determine whether participation in EU Treaties has shaped the empirical relationship between fiscal policy/public debt and environmental performance. Design/methodology/approach To this end, the authors built a panel data set that covers 24 European countries over the period 1996–2015. Findings The aspect that the authors want to underline is a possible trade off, which is confirmed in the empirical analysis, between the public finance equilibrium and the maintenance of a public good such as air quality. However, there are important non-linearities that shape the interaction between public debt and environmental pollution. Similarly, threshold effects arise when the authors examine the interaction between EU regulation and public debt and when the authors separately examine high debt and low debt countries. When the authors account for the stabilization rules introduced by EU Treaties, a negative effect on pollution is evident; in this way, fiscal consolidation limits the positive effect of fiscal policy. Practical implications The results point out the existence of a potential trade-off between the role of EU as a regulator aiming to mitigate environmental pollution, and its role within the Stability and Growth Pact. The analysis highlights that fiscal consolidation policies, while facilitating the achievement of macroeconomic stability within EU, might have a negative side effect on the environment quality, which spreads beyond the borders of one single country. Originality/value While a number of studies have suggested that fiscal spending might contribute to the level of pollution in European countries, there is scant evidence of the effect of public debt on environmental performance. This lack of scientific knowledge is a serious shortcoming, since it may allow for an underrepresentation of the wide-ranging consequences of stabilization programmes targeting the debt-to-GDP ratio, which could affect environmental quality.

Financial development and environmental performance: evidence from China

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
KARL YUXIANG ◽  
ZHONGCHANG CHEN
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Financial Development ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Industrial Pollution ◽  
Econometric Analysis ◽  
Policy Makers

ABSTRACTThis paper extends the debate on the environmental performance of developing countries by focusing on a new factor. Theoretically, financial development has capitalization, technology, income, and regulation effects on the environment. Using the provincial panel data of China, the econometric analysis provides some evidence of a linkage between financial development and industrial pollution discharges. In recent years, the environmental performance of China has been significantly improved by financial development and some environmental protection schemes. This relationship offers new implications for policy makers in developing countries.

scholarly journals Environmental non-governmental organizations and air-pollution governance: Empirical evidence from OECD countries

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255166
Author(s):  
Guangqin Li ◽  
Qiao He ◽  
Dongmei Wang ◽  
Bofan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Econometric Model ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Mechanism Analysis ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations

Based on the panel data of environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs) and air pollution in OECD countries, this paper uses econometric model to investigate the governance effect of ENGOs on air pollution. The results show that: ENGOs have a positive impact on the improvement of environmental quality, and the results are still valid after a series of robustness tests; Further mechanism analysis found that the environmental improvement by ENGOs is mainly achieved by increasing investment in environmental protection. This study provides empirical evidence for the effect of ENGOs on air pollution, and further provides ideas for environmental governance.

STATISTICAL METHODS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF AIR POLLUTION OF JHANSI CITY, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. CHAUHAN ◽  
BHANUMATI SINGH ◽  
SHREE GANESH ◽  
JAMSHED ZAIDI
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Status

Studies on air pollution in large cities of India showed that ambient air pollution concentrations are at such levels where serious health effects are possible. This paper presents overview on the status of air quality index (AQI) of Jhansi city by using multivariate statistical techniques. This base line data can help governmental and non-governmental organizations for the management of air pollution.

scholarly journals Pursuing Frugal Innovation for Sustainability at the Grassroots Level

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Mokter Hossain ◽  
Jarkko Levänen ◽  
Marleen Wierenga
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Frugal Innovation ◽  
New Business ◽  
Grassroots Level ◽  
Societal Problems ◽  
New Business Models

ABSTRACT Firms are often criticized for their reluctance to embrace sustainability in their business strategies. Frugal innovation is a recent concept that represents a new way for firms to serve underserved customers in developing countries while also promoting sustainability. Based on three cases of frugal innovation at the grassroots level in India, this article demonstrates how frugal innovation presents a promising way to tackle some of today's pressing societal problems with new business models. We use a range of parameters for economic, social, and environmental sustainability to strengthen the case for frugal innovation. This article attempts to inspire scholars to consider frugal innovation further in their future research endeavors and encourage firms to integrate it into their existing business models.

scholarly journals Big data for climate action or climate action for big data?

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 205395172098203
Author(s):  
Maria I Espinoza ◽  
Melissa Aronczyk
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Intergovernmental Organizations ◽  
Address Climate Change ◽  
Data Practices ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
User Data ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
Depth Interviews

Under the banner of “data for good,” companies in the technology, finance, and retail sectors supply their proprietary datasets to development agencies, NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations to help solve an array of social problems. We focus on the activities and implications of the Data for Climate Action campaign, a set of public–private collaborations that wield user data to design innovative responses to the global climate crisis. Drawing on in-depth interviews, first-hand observations at “data for good” events, intergovernmental and international organizational reports, and media publicity, we evaluate the logic driving Data for Climate Action initiatives, examining the implications of applying commercial datasets and expertise to environmental problems. Despite the increasing adoption of Data for Climate Action paradigms in government and public sector efforts to address climate change, we argue Data for Climate Action is better seen as a strategy to legitimate extractive, profit-oriented data practices by companies than a means to achieve global goals for environmental sustainability.

The effects of debt restructurings on income inequality in the developing world

2021 ◽  
pp. 135406612110014
Author(s):  
Glen Biglaiser ◽  
Ronald J. McGauvran
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Income Distribution ◽  
Government Spending ◽  
Tax Reform ◽  
Social Spending ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Impact

Developing countries, saddled with debts, often prefer investors absorb losses through debt restructurings. By not making full repayments, debtor governments could increase social spending, serving poorer constituents, and, in turn, lowering income inequality. Alternatively, debtor governments could reduce taxes and cut government spending, bolstering the assets of the rich at the expense of the poor. Using panel data for 71 developing countries from 1986 to 2016, we assess the effects of debt restructurings on societal income distribution. Specifically, we study the impact of debt restructurings on social spending, tax reform, and income inequality. We find that countries receiving debt restructurings tend to use their newly acquired economic flexibility to reduce taxes and lower social spending, worsening income inequality. The results are also robust to different model specifications. Our study contributes to the globalization and the poor debate, suggesting the economic harm caused to the less well-off following debt restructurings.

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