Conclusions

The analyses in this book hopefully have demonstrated that by modifying the quality and structure of property rights, governments can improve the potential for environmental stewardship. In other words, by adjusting the institutional framework governments can induce state and non-state actors to improve environmental quality at a given level of development and for natural resources under any ‘property regime.’ Most importantly, the findings highlight the environmental impact of politics and thereby complement previous studies on the role of per capita income levels, but also on other political, social, and cognitive factors. Questions of governmental assurance of property rights, governmental intervention in the structure of property rights, and governmental capacity and commitment are shown to be important determinants of environmental stewardship at any given level of development.