Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This cross-national analysis examines the relationship between a nation’s economic prosperity and emissions intensity levels for two greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, in 1995 and 2000. These two gases are currently the leading contributors to global climate change. Using a World-Systems perspective, it is my hypothesis that more affluent nations will be responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions per capita. Using available data on affluence, carbon dioxide and methane emissions intensity for 1995 and 2000 (N=168), analysis confirms a statistically significant relationship between level of national affluence and carbon dioxide and methane emissions intensity.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: We investigate the extent to which the transnational organization of production in the context of foreign investment dependence impacts the environment in less-developed countries. Drawing from the theory of foreign investment dependence and research on structural globalization and the environment, we test two hypotheses: (1) foreign investment dependence in the manufacturing sector is positively associated with carbon dioxide emissions in less-developed countries, and (2) foreign investment dependence in the manufacturing sector is positively associated with the emission of organic water pollutants in less-developed countries. Findings for the OLS fixed effects panel regression analyses confirm both hypotheses, providing support for the theory. Other results correspond with prior research in the political-economic and structural human ecology traditions.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: In recent years, there has been increasing attention by both researchers and policy makers directed at the role civil society plays in the reduction of environmental degradation throughout the developing world. This is the first quantitative, cross-national study to incorporate predictors designed to test hypotheses linking carbon dioxide emissions to civil society. The study is based on a sample of fifty-nine developing countries using panel regression. First, our major findings are quite clear with respect to one aspect of political modernization theory that developing countries with high levels of civil society density have lower levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Indicators of international, non-governmental organization density and political strike density exert a negative and significant effect on carbon dioxide emissions. Second, our results support hypotheses derived from other aspects of political modernization theory that the level of political democracy maintains a u-shaped relationship with carbon dioxide emissions. Third, we also find support for neo-Malthusian theory that population growth exerts a positive effect on carbon dioxide emissions. Fourth, the level of economic development, an indicator of economic modernization theory, maintains a positive and significant effect on the dependent variable. Finally, we find support for ecological evolutionary arguments that both agricultural density and urban agglomeration tend to decrease carbon dioxide emissions.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper examines the impact of economic development on carbon dioxide emissions between 1980 and 2004. In pooled cross-sectional analyses of 94 countries, I find that the relationship between per capita CO2 emissions and gross domestic product (GDP) takes the inverted-U shape predicted by modernization theory. Because the turning point level of GDP is very high, however, increases in GDP remain associated with increases in CO2 emissions across most of the range of observed values. Net of income, the size of the agricultural sector relative to the manufacturing sector is negatively associated with carbon dioxide emissions in more- and less-developed countries alike. Regression results also show that domestic energy resources contribute significantly to an explanation of cross-national differences in carbon dioxide emissions. Contrary to the pollution haven hypothesis, exports have no significant effect on CO2 emissions in either more- or less-developed countries.