The Effect of Global Economic and Environmental Pressures in the Case of National Park Expansion

• In Event: 323 - Regular Session. Globalization

Abstract

Why are some nations more environmental than others? How does development affect environmental outcomes in nations? I am interested in the ways global environmental pressures and domestic development pressures conflict, and whether or not these conflicts promote or hinder positive environmental outcomes. For this project, I use fixed effects panel regression analyses to analyze the effects of development and environmentalism, in the case of a specific environmental outcome, establishment of national parks from 1970-2013, in Western and Non-Western countries. In doing so, I test major sociological theories that seek to explain state behavior related to environmental concerns, including political economy theory and world society theory. I find that domestic environmental organizations have a positive effect on park establishment in all countries. While World Bank activity has a negative effect on park expansion in Western countries, it positively effects park expansion in Non-Western countries. This suggests that in the case of parks domestic development pressures do not preclude positive environmental outcomes.
 

Author

• Natasha Miric, University of California-Irvine