Power and Public Goods to the People : A cross-national study on the effect of democracy on climate change policy output

Abstract: This thesis investigates in what way democracy affect climate change policy output. The aim of the study is to test the positive correlation between democracy and climate change policy output that Bättig and Bernauer (2009) found. A contribution is made in the form of a new database including 193 countries and a newly constructed climate change policy index. The method of regression analysis using ordinary least squares is utilized. The results confirm a significant and substantial positive relation between democracy and climate change policy output. Furthermore, the effect of civil liberties on climate change policy output seem to be stronger than the effect of political rights. The results underline the instrumental value of democracy for sustainable development. To protect and enforce democratic institutions in high emission countries is important to avoid interruption of social and economic development all over the world, due to the consequences of climate change. Additionally, the results speak in favour of democratization aid to avoid development of carbon dependent economies. Finally, they underline the importance of analysing the possible environmental impact of different kinds of aid. In sum the thesis shows that democracy can affect the likelihood of collective action and increase the provision of public goods in the form of ambitious climate change policies.