Political stability effect on environment and weak sustainability in Asian countries

Abstract

A healthy and clean environment is a place for healthy production and consumption. Environmental quality decreases due to human intervention. In addition to human activities, the type of governance system and political regime causes the destruction or improvement of the environment. This paper investigates the role of political stability on weak sustainability in a sample of 43 Asian countries during 2000–2019. Control variables are government size, trade, and population density. Based on the results, political stability and lack of violence have positive effect on Adjusted Net Saving (ANS) ratio, while government size affects ANS negatively. In addition, trade impacts on weak sustainability in the current sample, rejecting pollution haven hypothesis. The effect of population density on ANS is positive. This effect is unexpected which requires further studies. According to our findings, Asian countries should follow stabilizing policies, especially in political races and campaigns.