Environmental Policy Attitudes: Issues, Geographical Scale, and Political Trust

Jeffrey Milyo, David M. Konisky and Lilliard E. Richardson, Jr.

No 811, Working Papers from Department of Economics, University of Missouri

Abstract: Objectives. This article examines environmental policy attitudes, focusing on the differences in preferences across issue type (i.e., pollution, resource preservation) and geographical scale (i.e., local, national, global). In addition, we study whether an individuals trust in government influences environmental policy attitudes. Methods. Analyzing data from the 2007 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, we estimate a series of OLS regression models to examine the publics environmental policy attitudes. Results. We find stronger public support for government action to address pollution issues than resources issues, and stronger support for local and national pollution abatement than dealing with global problems. We also find that Republicans and ideological conservatives are less likely to support further government effort to address the environment, and that more trusting individuals are more favorable to government action to address pollution and global issues. Conclusion. Environmental policy attitudes vary by the nature of the issue; however, political ideology and partisan affiliation are consistent predictors of preferences across issues, even when controlling for an individuals level of trust in government.

Keywords: Environment; NIMBY; Public Opinion; Political Economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H1 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 20 pgs.
Date: 2008-10-17
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env, nep-pol, nep-res and nep-soc
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (35)

Published in Social Science Quarterly 2008

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Journal Article: Environmental Policy Attitudes: Issues, Geographical Scale, and Political Trust* (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:umc:wpaper:0811

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