The cyclicality of government environmental expenditure: political pressure in economic upturns and in recessions

Andrew Abbott, Philip Jones

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

This is the first paper to explore the determinants of the cyclicality of government environmental protection expenditures. Attention focuses on political pressures to increase expenditure on public-sector programmes. These pressures change systematically over the economic cycle. In economic upturns, voters experience ‘fiscal illusion’. Governments can exercise discretion to increase environmental expenditures. In recessions, voters are far more aware. Vote maximising governments divert expenditures away from the environment, toward programmes that deliver more private-good benefits. Predictions are tested with reference to 28 OECD countries’ expenditures between 1992 and 2012. The cyclicality of expenditures depends on government sensitivity to systematic changes in voter awareness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)209-228
JournalJournal of Environmental Economics and Policy
Volume12
Issue number2
Early online date29 Jul 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Dec 2023

Keywords

  • E62
  • environmental protection
  • fiscal illusion
  • Government expenditure
  • H50
  • H60
  • H70
  • voracity effects

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The cyclicality of government environmental expenditure: political pressure in economic upturns and in recessions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this