Does the Extent of Democracy, the Degree of Income Inequality, or the Size of the Private Sector Influence National Enviromental Performance?

Abstract

This paper uses cross country regression analysis on a newly available index that comprehensively measures total national environmental performance to look at the effect of democracy, income inequality, and the size of the private sector on national environmental performance. The evidence tends to indicate, that while democracy has a positive effect on a country’s environmental performance, income inequality and the size of the private sector have a negative effect.