Balancing Multilevel Politics in Local Environmental Policy Choices. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fowler, Luke; Rabinowitz, Geoffrey
• Is Part Of: Public works management & policy. Volume 25:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: air quality -- environmental planning -- state-local relations -- policymaking -- ambiguity; Public works -- United States -- Management -- Periodicals; Public works -- Finance -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; 363
• DOI: 10.1177/1087724X19834563
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-724X

Abstract

Although local governments are well poised to address complex environmental policy problems, balancing local and supra-local politics is a key obstacle to overcome. The authors argue that when making policy choices, local policymakers balance local and supra-local influences by exploiting uncertainty in policy goals and associated target populations. Using probit models and survey data of city and county agencies, the authors examine how local and supra-local politics influence local policy choices. Four scenarios are identified: (a) pollution prevention and regional cooperation initiatives affected by local politics, (b) outreach initiatives affected by supra-local politics, (c) transportation alternative initiatives affected by both local and supra-local politics, and (d) energy alternatives and smart growth initiatives affected by interactions between local and supra-local politics. The conclusions suggest ambiguity frames environmental policies, which is to local policymakers' advantage when balancing contentious multilevel politics.