In-and-Beyond State Power: How Political Equality Moderates the Economic Growth-CO2 Emissions Relationship, 1990-2014

Abstract

This study tests whether greater political equality at the nation-state level moderates economic growth’s association with production-based and consumption-based CO2 emissions. Based on data for 106 nations from 1990 to 2014, this study finds that greater political equality mitigates both types of emissions, but when interacted with economic growth, it intensifies growth’s association with emissions. Conversely, political equality mitigates emissions when the economy is stagnant or contracts, but has no effect on emissions during times of economic expansion. The results are homogeneous across country income groups. These findings suggest that greater political equality is likely a necessary but insufficient condition to mitigate CO2 emissions.