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Local Institutions and Environmental Outcomes: Evidence from Wetlands Protection in Massachusetts
Author(s) -
Meyer Stephen M.,
Konisky David M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-0072.2007.00234.x
Subject(s) - expansive , environmental quality , political science , public administration , environmental planning , environmental resource management , geography , law , economics , materials science , compressive strength , composite material
Community‐based efforts to address environmental problems occupy an increasingly large space on the environmental policy landscape. Advocates argue that local environmental institutions (LEIs) can deliver both procedural and environmental quality benefits. Yet, despite over a decade of expansive support, the performance of LEIs remains largely unknown, particularly with regard to environmental outcomes. In this article, we consider new environmental outcome data we compiled from local efforts to implement the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. We find that stronger forms of LEIs generate both quantitatively and qualitatively better environmental outcomes, which suggests that LEIs may live up to their advocates’ expectations.