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The Policy Consequences of Political Corruption: Evidence from State Environmental Programs *
Author(s) -
Woods Neal D.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2008.00531.x
Subject(s) - language change , state (computer science) , politics , political corruption , environmental policy , environmentalism , public economics , economics , political science , public policy , political economy , development economics , economic growth , law , natural resource economics , art , literature , algorithm , computer science
Objective. This study assesses the effect of political corruption on state environmental policy. Method. OLS regression analyses are used to determine if political corruption affects the strength of state environmental programs. Results. The results suggest that political corruption serves to systematically weaken state environmental programs. The effect of corruption is similar in magnitude to conventional explanations of environmental program strength, such as public environmentalism and state wealth. Its impact is particularly pronounced in states with strong organized manufacturing interests. Conclusion. Political corruption may systematically bias the substance of public policy.