Quality of government for environmental wellbeing? Subnational evidence from European regions

This study investigates the relationship between quality of government and environmental wellbeing in European regions at the NUTS-2 level. First, we find that subnational environmental data are spatially interdependent. Then, we construct a set of composite indicators of environmental wellbeing via...

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Main Authors: Andrea Vaccaro, Carlotta Montorsi, Chiara Gigliarano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Regional Studies, Regional Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21681376.2025.2475113
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author Andrea Vaccaro
Carlotta Montorsi
Chiara Gigliarano
author_facet Andrea Vaccaro
Carlotta Montorsi
Chiara Gigliarano
author_sort Andrea Vaccaro
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the relationship between quality of government and environmental wellbeing in European regions at the NUTS-2 level. First, we find that subnational environmental data are spatially interdependent. Then, we construct a set of composite indicators of environmental wellbeing via Bayesian spatial factor analysis. Finally, by using these composite indicators in spatial regression analysis, we show that institutional quality is a key determinant of environmental wellbeing. We also find that the institutions-environment nexus varies across dimensions of environmental wellbeing – institutions matter especially for the quality of air and soil. Policymakers should be aware that environmental degradation can be tackled by building more effective and well-functioning regional public institutions.
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spelling doaj-art-8f7fd5e461504deb8ac1ebfd205332242025-08-20T02:16:22ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRegional Studies, Regional Science2168-13762025-12-0112135738010.1080/21681376.2025.2475113Quality of government for environmental wellbeing? Subnational evidence from European regionsAndrea Vaccaro0Carlotta Montorsi1Chiara Gigliarano2Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKDepartment of Economics and Statistics, University of Turin, Turin, ItalyDipartimento in Gestione Integrata, Carlo Cattaneo University – LIUC, Castellanza, ItalyThis study investigates the relationship between quality of government and environmental wellbeing in European regions at the NUTS-2 level. First, we find that subnational environmental data are spatially interdependent. Then, we construct a set of composite indicators of environmental wellbeing via Bayesian spatial factor analysis. Finally, by using these composite indicators in spatial regression analysis, we show that institutional quality is a key determinant of environmental wellbeing. We also find that the institutions-environment nexus varies across dimensions of environmental wellbeing – institutions matter especially for the quality of air and soil. Policymakers should be aware that environmental degradation can be tackled by building more effective and well-functioning regional public institutions.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21681376.2025.2475113Quality of governmentinstitutionswellbeingenvironmentcomposite indicatorsspatial correlation
spellingShingle Andrea Vaccaro
Carlotta Montorsi
Chiara Gigliarano
Quality of government for environmental wellbeing? Subnational evidence from European regions
Regional Studies, Regional Science
Quality of government
institutions
wellbeing
environment
composite indicators
spatial correlation
title Quality of government for environmental wellbeing? Subnational evidence from European regions
title_full Quality of government for environmental wellbeing? Subnational evidence from European regions
title_fullStr Quality of government for environmental wellbeing? Subnational evidence from European regions
title_full_unstemmed Quality of government for environmental wellbeing? Subnational evidence from European regions
title_short Quality of government for environmental wellbeing? Subnational evidence from European regions
title_sort quality of government for environmental wellbeing subnational evidence from european regions
topic Quality of government
institutions
wellbeing
environment
composite indicators
spatial correlation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21681376.2025.2475113
work_keys_str_mv AT andreavaccaro qualityofgovernmentforenvironmentalwellbeingsubnationalevidencefromeuropeanregions
AT carlottamontorsi qualityofgovernmentforenvironmentalwellbeingsubnationalevidencefromeuropeanregions
AT chiaragigliarano qualityofgovernmentforenvironmentalwellbeingsubnationalevidencefromeuropeanregions