Decentralization and environmentally sound decision making : policy implications
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Date
2007
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Latin American and Caribbean Environmental Economics Program (LACEEP), Turrialba, CR
Abstract
Among the major political and economic trends that have been evolving in Latin America in
recent years, the emergence of municipal governments as frontline actors stands out. Central
American countries have begun to grant local governments greater rights and responsibilities
regarding natural resource management. In Guatemala, one of the major pieces of legislation
to achieve important rural development goals, as claimed by the government, is the Law of
Decentralization. As more decision making is transferred to local governments, one wonders:
what are the attitudes of potential local decision makers towards the environment, and which
factors may explain such attitudes; what would be the dominant criteria for local decision
making in selecting development projects; and, what will be the level of priority assigned to
environmental concerns. This paper aims to answer these questions. A two phase analytical
process was conducted: first, aiming at determining individual local decision makers´ attitudes
towards the environment and identifying the factors that determine such attitudes; secondly,
determining whether, in fact, individual attitude could explain actual decision making. Age,
gender, education and non-formal environmental training are significant variables in shaping
environmental attitudes. Environmental attitude, as measured by the NEPS, is significant in
determining pro-environmental investment decisions.
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Working Paper
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Keywords
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, DECISION MAKING, ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES, LOCAL LEVEL, DECENTRALIZATION, ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES, ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES, LATIN AMERICA