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Environmental sustainability and pressure groups

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Abstract

This study puts forth the importance of effects of pressure groups on environmental sustainability. A comprehensive literature review has revealed that there are just case studies in theoretical modelling that attempt to analyze the relation between special interest groups and environmental sustainability. When special interest groups act in an organized manner, they turn into pressure groups. For this reason, pressure groups should have a negative impact on environmental sustainability. According to the results of the first empirical analysis in this field, which was based on the data from 127 countries, there is a negative correlation between the level of environmental sustainability and pressure groups. The negative correlation between the pressure groups and environmental sustainability reaches the most significant level in developed countries. Therefore, we can conclude that as the number of pressure groups increases, the level of environmental sustainability decreases. Consequently, the implementation of policies which are created and applied to raise the level of welfare of today’s and future generations depend on developed countries which work without bowing to pressure groups.

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Notes

  1. The following studies can be examined for these issues: Shapiro (1971), Choi (1983), Landau (1985), Knack and Keefer (1997), Heckelman (2000), and Coates et al. (2003).

  2. For a review, see Ekins (1999) and Xepapadeas (2005).

  3. The following studies can be examined regarding these issues: Xing and Kolstad (2002).

  4. The following studies can be utilised in this regard: Gentry (1998), Dowell et al. (2000), and Eskeland and Harrison (2002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, The Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University, P.O.Box 70100, Karaman, Turkey

    Taner Güney

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  1. Taner Güney
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Correspondence to Taner Güney.

Appendix

Appendix

1.1 Variable definition and data sources

Pg::

Represents the number of pressure groups. Data was collected from the World Factbook prepared by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Growth::

Represents the annual increase in per capita in GDP. Data was collected from the World Bank World Development Indicators.

Popul::

Represents the annual increase of population. Data was collected from the World Bank World Development Indicators.

Urban::

Represents the proportion of total urban population to total population. Data was collected from the World Bank World Development Indicators.

Forest::

Represents the percentage of forested areas. Data was collected from the World Bank World Development Indicators.

pv::

Consists of a combination of variables of, internal conflict, external conflict and ethnic tension. Data takes values between 0 and 1. While governmental stability increases as the values get closer to 1, the level of internal and external conflict and ethnic tensions decreases. Data was collected from the Political Risk Services International Country Risk Guide (PRS).

va::

Indicates the level of influence of the country’s military structure on political decision-makers and the level of the country’s democratic accountability and transparency. Data takes values between 0 and 1. The level of democratic accountability and transparency increases and political pressure from military structure reduces as the values get closer to 1. Data was collected from the Political Risk Services International Country Risk Guide (PRS).

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Güney, T. Environmental sustainability and pressure groups. Qual Quant 49, 2331–2344 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-014-0116-6

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