Ethnically or religiously diverse countries underinvest in
measures to improve their environmental performance, according to new research
by an academic at the University of East Anglia.
Dr Elissaios Papyrakis also found that religious diversity
has a more detrimental impact on environmental performance than ethnic
differences. These social differences, if they cannot be overcome, may lower
collective action and reduce public spending on environmental protection and
performance.
The study, Environmental Performance in Socially Fragmented
Countries, is published online in the journal Environmental and Resource
Economics.