Public support for environmental policy depends on beliefs concerning effectiveness, intrusiveness, and fairness
Author / Producer
Date
2020
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
Data
Abstract
In industrialised countries, emissions from fossil-fuelled vehicles show little sign of abatement, with citizens’ opposition to policy interventions arguably the key reason. To better understand the sources of public opinion towards particular types of policy instruments designed to reduce vehicle emissions, we focus on the perceived consequences of such instruments, notably the extent to which they are regarded as effective, fair, and unintrusive. Switzerland is the empirical focus because it lags behind neighbouring European countries. We assess public support for seven policy instruments, identified by existing literature and expert interviews. A survey-embedded experiment with a representative sample of 2,034 citizens provides support for the argument that policy instruments perceived as effective, fair, and unintrusive achieve higher levels of public support. These results may help policymakers design interventions that strike a balance between political feasibility and problem-solving effectiveness.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
29
Pages / Article No.
649 - 673
Publisher
Routledge
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Public policy support; political feasibility; choice experiment; transportation policy; policy instruments
Organisational unit
03446 - Bernauer, Thomas / Bernauer, Thomas
02890 - Albert Einstein School of Public Policy / Albert Einstein School of Public Policy
09685 - Kaufmann, David / Kaufmann, David
02655 - Netzwerk Stadt u. Landschaft ARCH u BAUG / Network City and Landscape ARCH and BAUG
Notes
Funding
295456 - Sources of Legitimacy in Global Environmental Governance (EC)