How multilevel structures affect environmental policy in industrialized countries

@article{citeulike:1820929, abstract = {Abstract. Extensive decentralization and devolution efforts among industrialized nations throughout the 1980s and 1990s call for a closer look at the effect these trends have on public policy. This article investigates the impact of these trends on the environmental performance of industrialized countries. There are two competing hypotheses as to how federalism and other multilevel governance structures affect the environmental performance of countries. The first stresses that the resulting institutional fragmentation and regulatory unpredictability is detrimental to the protection of the environment. An alternative hypothesis emphasizes that multilevel systems fare better regarding environmental performance because they can effectively respond to local needs and encourage innovation at the sub-national level. Based on OECD air pollution data, the study finds that multilevel structures affect the way in which important determinants of environmental performance work. Thus, corporatist accommodation structures, which are known to enhance environmental policy, do so primarily in multi-tiered systems. A high level of economic development, on the other hand, which has also been shown to contribute to environmental performance, does so mainly in countries that are characterized by weak multilevel structures. The article discusses theoretical and practical implications of these findings.}, author = {Walti, Sonja }, citeulike-article-id = {1820929}, doi = {10.1111/j.1475-6765.2004.00167.x}, journal = {European Journal of Political Research}, keywords = {decentralization, environment, governance, policy}, number = {4}, pages = {599--634}, posted-at = {2007-10-25 13:47:43}, priority = {2}, title = {How multilevel structures affect environmental policy in industrialized countries}, url = {http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1475-6765.2004.00167.x}, volume = {43}, year = {2004} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:1820929 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1820929 TI - How multilevel structures affect environmental policy in industrialized countries JF - European Journal of Political Research VL - 43 IS - 4 SP - 599 EP - 634 N2 - Abstract. Extensive decentralization and devolution efforts among industrialized nations throughout the 1980s and 1990s call for a closer look at the effect these trends have on public policy. This article investigates the impact of these trends on the environmental performance of industrialized countries. There are two competing hypotheses as to how federalism and other multilevel governance structures affect the environmental performance of countries. The first stresses that the resulting institutional fragmentation and regulatory unpredictability is detrimental to the protection of the environment. An alternative hypothesis emphasizes that multilevel systems fare better regarding environmental performance because they can effectively respond to local needs and encourage innovation at the sub-national level. Based on OECD air pollution data, the study finds that multilevel structures affect the way in which important determinants of environmental performance work. Thus, corporatist accommodation structures, which are known to enhance environmental policy, do so primarily in multi-tiered systems. A high level of economic development, on the other hand, which has also been shown to contribute to environmental performance, does so mainly in countries that are characterized by weak multilevel structures. The article discusses theoretical and practical implications of these findings. KW - decentralization KW - environment KW - governance KW - policy AU - Walti, Sonja PY - 2004/// UR - http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1475-6765.2004.00167.x ER -