Grand and petty corruption: a cross-national analysis of forest loss in low- and middle-income nations

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie M. Sommer
Keyword(s):  
Forest Loss ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Low And Middle Income ◽  
Petty Corruption

scholarly journals Corrupt Actions and Forest Loss: A Cross-National Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Jamie M Sommer
Keyword(s):  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Low And Middle Income ◽  
Petty Corruption

Extant literature documents the negative environmental impacts of corruption on forest loss. More recently, research has shown that both grand and petty corruption are associated with higher levels of forest loss in low- and middle-income nations. However, the extant research neglects to assess how different types of grand and petty corruption impact forest loss. To address the gap in the literature, this article differentiates the effect of various types of corrupt actions on forest loss. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression for a sample of 87 low- and middle-income nations from 2000 is used to test if grand corrupt actions, namely embezzlement and bribes, and petty corrupt actions including theft and corrupt exchanges are related to increased forest loss. The dependent variable uses satellite forest data from 2001 to 2014. Results show that embezzlement, bribes, theft, and corrupt exchanges all impact forest loss, which suggests that policy measures to curb corruption should take a holistic approach to corruption, rather than rely on individual interventions.

scholarly journals The International Finance Corporation and Forest Loss: A Cross-National Analysis

2011 ◽  
pp. 328-352
Author(s):  
John M. Shandra ◽  
Eric Shircliff ◽  
Bruce London
Keyword(s):  
International Finance ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Bank Lending ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
International Finance Corporation ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Low And Middle Income

We conduct the first cross-national study to consider the impact of the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation loans on forests. In doing so, we analyze data for a sample of sixty-one low and middle income nations for the period of 1990 to 2005. We find substantial support for dependency theory that low and middle income nations that receive an International Finance Corporation loan tend to have higher rates of deforestation than low and middle income nations that do not receive such a loan. We also find that other aspects of World Bank lending affect forest loss including structural adjustment and investment lending. We conclude with a discussion of the findings, theoretical implications, methodological implications, policy implications, and possible directions for future research.

scholarly journals Do China’s Environmental Gains at Home Fuel Forest Loss Abroad?: A Cross-National Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M Shandra ◽  
Michael Restivo ◽  
Jamie M Sommer
Keyword(s):  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Main Hypothesis ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Analyze Data ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The theory and empirical research on ecologically unequal exchange serves as the starting point for this study. We expand the research frontier it in a novel way by applying the theory to China and empirically testing if forestry export flows from low-and middle-income nations to China  are related to increased forest loss in the exporting nations. In doing so, we analyze data for 75 low-and middle-income nations using ordinary least squares regression and find support for our main hypothesis.

Exporting Forest Loss? A Cross-National Analysis of the United States Export–Import Bank Financing in Low- and Middle-Income Nations

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-269
Author(s):  
Michael Restivo ◽  
John M. Shandra ◽  
Jamie M. Sommer
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Income ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Dependency Theory ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Forestry Sector ◽  
States Export ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Dependency theory argues that due to unequal economic relationships, including exports, multinational corporations, and loans from multilateral lending institutions, high-income nations exploit the labor and resources of low- and middle-income nations. We extend this line of reasoning to the United States Export–Import Bank, as it has recently come under scrutiny for its lending in the forestry sector of low- and middle-income nations. Although this concern has been raised, we are not aware of any cross-national research that empirically evaluates if their investments adversely impact forests. Therefore, we examine the impact of the United States Export–Import Bank lending in the forestry sector on forest loss. Using a two-stage instrumental variable regression model to account for possible donor selection bias as well as ordinary least squares regression to analyze data for 78 low- and middle-income nations, we find that export credit agency financing is related to increased forest loss from 2001 to 2014. Our findings are consistent with dependency theory ideas that economic linkages with high-income nations increase forest loss in low- and middle-income nations.

India, Palm Oil, and Ecologically Unequal Exchange: A Cross-national Analysis of Forest Loss

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 312-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie M. Sommer ◽  
Michael Restivo ◽  
John M. Shandra
Keyword(s):  
Palm Oil ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Exchange Theory ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Main Hypothesis ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Unequal Exchange ◽  
Trading Partners ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Drawing on ecologically unequal exchange theory and previous research, we assess whether palm exports from low- and middle-income nations to India increase forest loss in exporting nations. Using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression for a sample of 91 low- and middle-income nations, we find support for our main hypothesis that palm exports sent from low- and middle-income nations to India are related to increased forest loss in the exporting nations. Our findings refine and expand upon ecologically unequal exchange theory by demonstrating that India, a middle-income nation, nevertheless is capable of positioning itself favorably in trading opportunities with other low- and middle-income nations. As India meets its needs for palm oil from abroad which is central to its economic growth and industrialization, their low- and middle-income trading partners bear more of the burden of environmental harms from the extraction and export of palm oil.

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