Italian environmental laws set targets for separate waste collection (SWC) in a top-down public decision-making approach. This study uses quarterly data (2002Q1–2019Q1) on the 103 Italian provinces to investigate whether the targets activate a yardstick competition (YC) mechanism in SWC. Applying a two-regime spatial Durbin model, this study demonstrates that YC emerges in the sub-periods defined by target levels (35%, 45% and 65%) when using an inverse geographical distance matrix. Conversely, YC does not arise when proximity is defined in economic and institutional quality terms. Finally, the study proposes policy implications.
Yardstick competition in Italian waste legislation targets: How much does the type of neighbour matter?
Massimiliano Agovino;Katia Marchesano;Gaetano Musella
2024-01-01
Abstract
Italian environmental laws set targets for separate waste collection (SWC) in a top-down public decision-making approach. This study uses quarterly data (2002Q1–2019Q1) on the 103 Italian provinces to investigate whether the targets activate a yardstick competition (YC) mechanism in SWC. Applying a two-regime spatial Durbin model, this study demonstrates that YC emerges in the sub-periods defined by target levels (35%, 45% and 65%) when using an inverse geographical distance matrix. Conversely, YC does not arise when proximity is defined in economic and institutional quality terms. Finally, the study proposes policy implications.File in questo prodotto:
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