All Policies Are Glocal: International Environmental Policymaking with Strategic Local Governments
Type
working paper
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
National governments have intensified their attempts to create international institutions in various policy fields such as environment, finance, and trade. At the same time, many subnational policymakers have begun to duplicate international efforts by setting their own, stricter policies while others remain inactive or even enact more lax regulation. This "glocalization" of policy creates a complex and economically costly patchwork system of regulations. We analyze the interaction between subnational and national governments within a general model of international treaty negotiations. The glocalization of regulatory policy can be understood as an attempt by subnational policymakers to strategically constrain or empower national governments in international negotiations. The model illuminates the role of preference heterogeneity, the number of subnational policymakers, and concerns about international treaty outcomes. We find that the shadow of international institutions gives rise to surprising within-country and cross-country policy balancing dynamics that shed light on some of the subnational policy polarization currently observable in many countries. We specify the conditions under which they occur, spell out empirically testable hypotheses, and identify possible theoretical extensions.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
No
Publisher
Arbeitspapier
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
222423