A political–institutional explanation of environmental performance in Latin America

Denis Rey and Joshua Ozymy
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Denis Rey: University of Tampa, USA
Joshua Ozymy: Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, USA

International Area Studies Review, 2019, vol. 22, issue 4, 295-311

Abstract: This research utilizes the 2010 Environmental Performance Index to examine how electoral rules affect environmental performance in 20 Latin American democracies. Using supporting time-series analysis with dependent variables for habitat protection, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 to 2008, our study finds that proportionality and party systems influence environmental performance in the region. Results show that representation impacts ecosystem vitality more so than public health. We account for this gap by arguing that levels of political representation influence the allocation of public and private goods which, in turn, help determine environmental outcomes. Our findings do not always paint a consistent picture, which may be attributed to the difficulties of operationalizing complex concepts such as environmental performance within and across countries and examining how these relationships change over time. Additional research is warranted to tease out these relationships.

Keywords: Latin America; environmental health; electoral rules; public policy; political institutions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:intare:v:22:y:2019:i:4:p:295-311

DOI: 10.1177/2233865919833979

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