Can political freedom clean up our environment? This research investigates the relationship between civil and political freedoms, economic growth, and environmental quality. Departing from the widely held belief that environmental improvements are solely driven by policy responses to rising incomes, this study explores the direct influence of freedoms on pollution levels. The paper finds that increased civil and political freedoms significantly improve environmental quality for certain pollution variables. However, for other pollution variables, no such effect was observed. These results challenge the notion that pollution reduction automatically follows economic growth. These findings suggest that political reforms may be as vital as economic reforms in enhancing environmental quality worldwide. The study highlights the importance of considering factors beyond income when formulating environmental policies, emphasizing the need to foster democratic governance and civic participation for a more sustainable future. It contributes insights into both social science and environmental policies, encouraging a more holistic approach to global environmental challenges.
Published in Environment and Development Economics, this article explores the interplay of freedom, growth, and environmental quality, fitting the journal's focus on rigorous economic analysis applied to environmental issues in developing countries. It is directly related to enviromental policies and economic policies.