Eric Neumayer
Do Democracies Exhibit Stronger International Environmental Commitment? A Cross-country Analysis
London School of Economics and Political Science
article tests hypothesis democracies exhibit stronger international environmental commitment nondemocracies using multivariate econometric techniques number proxy variables used lieu environmental commitment nonobservable variable strong evidence found democracies sign ratify multilateral environmental agreements participate environmental intergovernmental organizations comply better reporting requirements convention international trade endangered species fauna flora put greater percentage land area protections status likely national council sustainable development country environmentally relevant information available nondemocracies findings suggest spread democracy around world lead enhanced environmental commitment worldwide results robust respect inclusion exclusion developed countries sample use four different variables democracy also ensures robustness respect measure democracy strong evidence favour positive link democracy environmental commitment stands contrast somewhat weak evidence link democracy environmental outcomes explanation presumably theory predicts stronger positive link democracy environmental commitment environmental outcomes