Policy Climates and Reductions in Automobile Use

Objectives. This study examines how national environmental policy influences individual car-driving behavior in the European Union. Methods. Using the International Social Survey: Environment II in conjunction with the 2001 and 2002 Environmental Sustainability Indices, we analyze the relationship b...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social science quarterly 2008-12, Vol.89 (5), p.1293-1311
Main Authors: Borek, Erika, Bohon, Stephanie A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Automobile driving
Automobile use
Automobiles
Behavior
Behavior Modification
Carbon dioxide
Climate change
Climate change policy
Ecological sustainability
Education
Emission standards
Employment
Environment
Environment and Policy
Environmental Policy
Environmental protection
Environmental sociology
Environmentalism
European Union
Global warming
Human influences
Influence
International Cooperation
Kyoto Protocol
Renewable energy
Socialization
Studies
Subsidies
Sustainable development
Transport
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives. This study examines how national environmental policy influences individual car-driving behavior in the European Union. Methods. Using the International Social Survey: Environment II in conjunction with the 2001 and 2002 Environmental Sustainability Indices, we analyze the relationship between macro-level policy indicators and the reported reduction of individual car driving for environmental reasons, controlling for meso- and micro-level factors. Results. Our results show that individuals report a greater likelihood of driving less for environmental reasons when they live in nations that adopt strong pro-environmental policies, even when such policies are not directly related to car use. Conclusions. Our finding that a national policy climate focused on environmental sustainability is associated with pro-environmental behaviors among individuals in that nation encourages us to believe that greater international cooperation on environmental issues (such as the Kyoto Protocol) and increased strength of domestic environmental policies will positively change individual behavior.
ISSN:0038-4941
1540-6237
DOI:10.1111/j.1540-6237.2008.00579.x