The Institutionalization of Environmental Attention in the United States and Denmark

Multiple‐ versus Single‐Venue Systems

Bibliographic Data

ID6264686
AuthorsChristoffer Green-Pedersen (0000-0001-7153-9634, Aarhus University), Christoffer Green‐pedersen, Michelle Wolfe (The University of Texas at Austin)
Year2009
Volume22
Issue4
Pages625-646
Publication date2009-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGovernance (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0952-1895 • E-ISSN: 1468-0491
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-0491.2009.01456.x
OpenAlexW2111389915
LanguageEN
Citations received17
References cited49

The European countries have surpassed the United States with regard to comprehensive and stringent environmental regulation. This policy pattern has become very visible in the international debate about reduction of CO2emissions. From a comparative public policy perspective, the recent difference is interesting because it restates the question about policy consequences of political institutions. This article addresses this theoretical question from the perspective of policy agenda‐setting theory. We present the argument that while the U.S. political system, with its many “venues” that are relatively open to internal and external competing forces, might be quicker in generating attention to new issues like the environment, the institutionalization of attention is also less strong than in a European parliamentary system. The article substantiates this argument with empirics by comparing attention to and policymaking for environmental issues in the United States to Denmark

Argument (complex analysis · Economics · Environmental policy · Environmental resource management · Institutionalisation · Perspective (graphical · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Policy Transfer and Learning · Public Administration · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance

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