Environmentalism undercover: the environmental dimension of public support for domestic water charges
Environmentalism undercover: the environmental dimension of public support for domestic water charges
Research shows that environmental attitudes can affect support for environmentally-beneficial policies. However, it is unclear whether environmental attitudes can influence support for such policies when they are not being primarily framed through an environmental lens. Using data from the 2011 Irish National Election Study, this paper examines the issue using the case of support for the reintroduction of water charges. This was a contentious issue with debate largely focusing on the proposal as an austerity measure, but the proposal also had environmental implications. The results find that while individuals' willingness to prioritise environmental protection over economic growth did not affect their support for water charges, their willingness to make individual sacrifices for the environment did. Moreover, voters’ position on this policy impacted their vote choice. The findings are particularly important given the struggles that governments are facing in implementing environmental taxes and charges.
Austerity, Elections, Environmental Attitudes, Ireland, Party competition, Water Charges
1-11
Kenny, John
db32975a-c617-4d10-9564-b94c32942f3d
December 2019
Kenny, John
db32975a-c617-4d10-9564-b94c32942f3d
Kenny, John
(2019)
Environmentalism undercover: the environmental dimension of public support for domestic water charges.
Electoral Studies, 62, , [102088].
(doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2019.102088).
Abstract
Research shows that environmental attitudes can affect support for environmentally-beneficial policies. However, it is unclear whether environmental attitudes can influence support for such policies when they are not being primarily framed through an environmental lens. Using data from the 2011 Irish National Election Study, this paper examines the issue using the case of support for the reintroduction of water charges. This was a contentious issue with debate largely focusing on the proposal as an austerity measure, but the proposal also had environmental implications. The results find that while individuals' willingness to prioritise environmental protection over economic growth did not affect their support for water charges, their willingness to make individual sacrifices for the environment did. Moreover, voters’ position on this policy impacted their vote choice. The findings are particularly important given the struggles that governments are facing in implementing environmental taxes and charges.
Text
Environmentalism Undercover
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 28 September 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 11 October 2019
Published date: December 2019
Keywords:
Austerity, Elections, Environmental Attitudes, Ireland, Party competition, Water Charges
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Local EPrints ID: 434958
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/434958
ISSN: 0261-3794
PURE UUID: d8a4852f-96fa-40fe-ae53-f20ddb76c99c
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Date deposited: 17 Oct 2019 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 08:17
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Author:
John Kenny
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