We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Postmaterialism and Environmental Protection Revisited: Domestic Plastic Bag Regulations, 1992–2019
Summary
Researchers used a hazard model to analyze plastic bag regulations across 133 countries from 1992 to 2019, finding that Global South countries that imported plastic waste were more likely to adopt domestic plastic bag bans or fees, challenging the postmaterialism hypothesis that wealthy countries lead environmental regulation.
Abstract The postmaterialism hypothesis suggests that wealthy countries are likely to be early adopters of pollution control regulations. Yet, Global South countries have taken the lead in regulating plastic bags. To explain this puzzle, we examine the influence of plastic waste imports on the onset of domestic plastic bag regulations. Processing imported waste creates visible local pollution in the Global South and mobilizes citizens and environmental groups. Because plastic bags are a visible manifestation of the plastic pollution problem, they become focal points for regulatory action. Using a hazard model, our analysis of 133 countries for the 1992–2019 period suggests that plastic waste importers (located in the Global South) are more likely to regulate plastic bags (via fees or bans) earlier, while plastic waste exports are not associated with plastic bag regulation. This article raises broader theoretical issues about domestic policy spillovers of international trade and addresses how trade might unexpectedly activate domestic politics focused on postmaterialist concerns.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Developing Countries in the Lead—What Drives the Diffusion of Plastic Bag Policies?
Researchers analysed the diffusion patterns of plastic bag bans and taxes across both developed and developing nations, finding that developing countries have predominantly adopted outright bans — more stringent legislation than the taxes favoured in the Global North. In the Global South, visible national pollution pressure drove policy adoption, while global public pressure was the key driver in high-income countries.
The paradox of plastic bag legislation: How bans and taxes affect PM2.5 air pollution in 208 countries
Researchers analyzed plastic bag regulations in 208 countries and found that outright bans generally reduce fine particle (PM2.5) air pollution, while plastic bag taxes unexpectedly increase it — likely because alternative bags require more energy-intensive production. The findings reveal that poorly designed plastic policies can create unintended environmental trade-offs.
Global Plastic Waste Trade: An Analysis of Sources and Trends (1996-2024)
The global trade in plastic waste — where wealthy nations ship plastic scraps to poorer ones for processing — has shaped recycling systems worldwide, but its sustainability is deeply contested. This bibliometric review of 257 academic papers (1996–2024) maps the research landscape, finding that China's 2018 ban on importing foreign plastic waste was a dominant topic, and that the trade raises serious concerns about environmental harm and economic inequality in recipient countries. The study underscores that international plastic waste flows are not a straightforward solution to the plastic crisis and require much closer scrutiny.
The Evolutionary Trend and Impact of Global Plastic Waste Trade Network
Analysis of the global plastic waste trade network from 1988 to 2017 found that recent national import bans have reshaped trade flows, with waste being redirected from China to other developing nations rather than reducing overall plastic waste generation.
Understanding the socioeconomic determinants of marine plastic pollution: Evaluating policy effectiveness and mitigation strategies in the Global South.
Researchers synthesized qualitative and quantitative evidence on marine plastic pollution in the Global South, identifying rapid urbanization, inadequate waste infrastructure, and weak governance as primary drivers, and recommending integrated strategies combining single-use plastic bans, extended producer responsibility, regional cooperation, and circular economy incentives.