A Critical Review of the Literature on Structural Adjustment and the Environment

This paper analyzes the available literature about the effects of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) on the environment and the convincing evidence for their success or failure. The studies covered refer to the SAPs by the World Bank as well as...

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Main Authors: Gueorguieva, Anna, Bolt, Katherine
Format: Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:
OIL
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/04/2455492/critical-review-literature-structural-adjustment-environment
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18396
id okr-10986-18396
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ENVIRONMENT
STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
ECONOMIC REFORM
TRADE LIBERALIZATION
POLLUTION
AGRICULTURE
LAND TENURE
FORESTRY
WATER SECTOR
ENERGY
URBAN ENVIRONMENT
PUBLIC SECTOR
GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTING
ADVERSE EFFECTS
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
AGRICULTURE
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
BIODIVERSITY
CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS
CIVIL SERVICE
COAL
COASTAL ZONES
COMMODITIES
CONSERVATION
COST OF CAPITAL
CREDIT RATIONING
CROP MIX
CROP YIELDS
CROPS
DEBT
DEFORESTATION
DEREGULATION
DEVELOPMENT BANKS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS
ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION
ECONOMIC REFORM
ECONOMIC SECTORS
ECONOMIC WELFARE
EMISSIONS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENTITLEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EQUILIBRIUM
EXPENDITURES
EXPLOITATION
FARMERS
FARMING
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FINANCIAL SECTOR
FOREST MANAGEMENT
FORESTRY
FORESTS
FUEL
FUEL WOOD
GREENHOUSE
GREENHOUSE GASES
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME LEVELS
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
IRRIGATION
LAND PRICES
LAND TENURE
LIVESTOCK
LIVING STANDARDS
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
LRMC
MAIZE
MANURE
MARGINAL LANDS
MIGRATION
NATIONAL INCOME
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
NATURAL RESOURCES
OIL
OIL CRISIS
OVERGRAZING
PESTICIDE USE
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
POPULATION PRESSURES
PRICE CHANGES
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATIZATION
PRODUCTIVITY
PROFITABILITY
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC FINANCE
QUOTAS
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS
RESERVOIRS
RESOURCE USE
SAPS
SOCIAL SERVICES
SOIL DEGRADATION
SOIL EROSION
SOIL FERTILITY
SOILS
STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT
SUBSIDIARY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SUSTAINABLE USE
TAXATION
TRADE LIBERALIZATION
TRANSPORT
TREES
UNEMPLOYMENT
URBAN CENTERS
URBAN ENVIRONMENT
URBANIZATION
WASTE
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER RESOURCES
WATER USE
WATERSHED
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
WETLANDS
spellingShingle ENVIRONMENT
STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
ECONOMIC REFORM
TRADE LIBERALIZATION
POLLUTION
AGRICULTURE
LAND TENURE
FORESTRY
WATER SECTOR
ENERGY
URBAN ENVIRONMENT
PUBLIC SECTOR
GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTING
ADVERSE EFFECTS
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
AGRICULTURE
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
BIODIVERSITY
CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS
CIVIL SERVICE
COAL
COASTAL ZONES
COMMODITIES
CONSERVATION
COST OF CAPITAL
CREDIT RATIONING
CROP MIX
CROP YIELDS
CROPS
DEBT
DEFORESTATION
DEREGULATION
DEVELOPMENT BANKS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS
ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION
ECONOMIC REFORM
ECONOMIC SECTORS
ECONOMIC WELFARE
EMISSIONS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENTITLEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EQUILIBRIUM
EXPENDITURES
EXPLOITATION
FARMERS
FARMING
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FINANCIAL SECTOR
FOREST MANAGEMENT
FORESTRY
FORESTS
FUEL
FUEL WOOD
GREENHOUSE
GREENHOUSE GASES
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME LEVELS
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
IRRIGATION
LAND PRICES
LAND TENURE
LIVESTOCK
LIVING STANDARDS
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
LRMC
MAIZE
MANURE
MARGINAL LANDS
MIGRATION
NATIONAL INCOME
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
NATURAL RESOURCES
OIL
OIL CRISIS
OVERGRAZING
PESTICIDE USE
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
POPULATION PRESSURES
PRICE CHANGES
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATIZATION
PRODUCTIVITY
PROFITABILITY
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC FINANCE
QUOTAS
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS
RESERVOIRS
RESOURCE USE
SAPS
SOCIAL SERVICES
SOIL DEGRADATION
SOIL EROSION
SOIL FERTILITY
SOILS
STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT
SUBSIDIARY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SUSTAINABLE USE
TAXATION
TRADE LIBERALIZATION
TRANSPORT
TREES
UNEMPLOYMENT
URBAN CENTERS
URBAN ENVIRONMENT
URBANIZATION
WASTE
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER RESOURCES
WATER USE
WATERSHED
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
WETLANDS
Gueorguieva, Anna
Bolt, Katherine
A Critical Review of the Literature on Structural Adjustment and the Environment
relation Environment Department working papers;no. 90. Environmental Economics series
description This paper analyzes the available literature about the effects of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) on the environment and the convincing evidence for their success or failure. The studies covered refer to the SAPs by the World Bank as well as to general government programs that have similar policy implications. SAPs are designed to reform economies to become more liberalized and export-oriented while reducing the role of governments that have become inefficient bureaucracies. Because of the implications of policies such as debt accumulation and trade, a concise literature review on debt and trade liberalization is also included. Despite the controversy surrounding structural adjustment and the environment, the debate has been largely based on anecdotal evidence and country case studies. Most of the studies reviewed are not quantitative and have not applied rigorous statistical methods. The conclusions of studies on the effects of structural adjustment (SA) on the environment are strongly influenced by what is examined, the sectoral level, and the stage of the SA process. The infrequency of high-caliber studies is due to data scarcity and statistical limitations. There is little reason to doubt, however, that over the longer term, the sorts of changes in incentive structures and relative price changes brought about by SA lending will have an impact on the environment. Economies undergoing SA will experience both growth (assuming the success of SAPs) and structural shifts, which will affect the extraction of natural resources and the level of pollution emissions.
format Publications & Research :: Working Paper
author Gueorguieva, Anna
Bolt, Katherine
author_facet Gueorguieva, Anna
Bolt, Katherine
author_sort Gueorguieva, Anna
title A Critical Review of the Literature on Structural Adjustment and the Environment
title_short A Critical Review of the Literature on Structural Adjustment and the Environment
title_full A Critical Review of the Literature on Structural Adjustment and the Environment
title_fullStr A Critical Review of the Literature on Structural Adjustment and the Environment
title_full_unstemmed A Critical Review of the Literature on Structural Adjustment and the Environment
title_sort critical review of the literature on structural adjustment and the environment
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2014
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/04/2455492/critical-review-literature-structural-adjustment-environment
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18396
_version_ 1764435862224896000
spelling okr-10986-183962021-04-23T14:03:34Z A Critical Review of the Literature on Structural Adjustment and the Environment Gueorguieva, Anna Bolt, Katherine ENVIRONMENT STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ECONOMIC REFORM TRADE LIBERALIZATION POLLUTION AGRICULTURE LAND TENURE FORESTRY WATER SECTOR ENERGY URBAN ENVIRONMENT PUBLIC SECTOR GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTING ADVERSE EFFECTS AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGRICULTURE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BIODIVERSITY CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS CIVIL SERVICE COAL COASTAL ZONES COMMODITIES CONSERVATION COST OF CAPITAL CREDIT RATIONING CROP MIX CROP YIELDS CROPS DEBT DEFORESTATION DEREGULATION DEVELOPMENT BANKS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC INCENTIVES ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION ECONOMIC REFORM ECONOMIC SECTORS ECONOMIC WELFARE EMISSIONS ENERGY CONSUMPTION ENTITLEMENTS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY EQUILIBRIUM EXPENDITURES EXPLOITATION FARMERS FARMING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SECTOR FOREST MANAGEMENT FORESTRY FORESTS FUEL FUEL WOOD GREENHOUSE GREENHOUSE GASES INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME LEVELS INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT IRRIGATION LAND PRICES LAND TENURE LIVESTOCK LIVING STANDARDS LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES LRMC MAIZE MANURE MARGINAL LANDS MIGRATION NATIONAL INCOME NATURAL ENVIRONMENT NATURAL RESOURCES OIL OIL CRISIS OVERGRAZING PESTICIDE USE PESTICIDES POLLUTION POPULATION PRESSURES PRICE CHANGES PRIVATE SECTOR PRIVATIZATION PRODUCTIVITY PROFITABILITY PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC FINANCE QUOTAS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS RESERVOIRS RESOURCE USE SAPS SOCIAL SERVICES SOIL DEGRADATION SOIL EROSION SOIL FERTILITY SOILS STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT SUBSIDIARY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABLE USE TAXATION TRADE LIBERALIZATION TRANSPORT TREES UNEMPLOYMENT URBAN CENTERS URBAN ENVIRONMENT URBANIZATION WASTE WASTE MANAGEMENT WATER RESOURCES WATER USE WATERSHED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT WETLANDS This paper analyzes the available literature about the effects of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) on the environment and the convincing evidence for their success or failure. The studies covered refer to the SAPs by the World Bank as well as to general government programs that have similar policy implications. SAPs are designed to reform economies to become more liberalized and export-oriented while reducing the role of governments that have become inefficient bureaucracies. Because of the implications of policies such as debt accumulation and trade, a concise literature review on debt and trade liberalization is also included. Despite the controversy surrounding structural adjustment and the environment, the debate has been largely based on anecdotal evidence and country case studies. Most of the studies reviewed are not quantitative and have not applied rigorous statistical methods. The conclusions of studies on the effects of structural adjustment (SA) on the environment are strongly influenced by what is examined, the sectoral level, and the stage of the SA process. The infrequency of high-caliber studies is due to data scarcity and statistical limitations. There is little reason to doubt, however, that over the longer term, the sorts of changes in incentive structures and relative price changes brought about by SA lending will have an impact on the environment. Economies undergoing SA will experience both growth (assuming the success of SAPs) and structural shifts, which will affect the extraction of natural resources and the level of pollution emissions. 2014-05-22T20:57:25Z 2014-05-22T20:57:25Z 2003-04 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/04/2455492/critical-review-literature-structural-adjustment-environment http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18396 English en_US Environment Department working papers;no. 90. Environmental Economics series CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Working Paper Publications & Research