Dutch Municipalities are Becoming Greener: Some Political and Institutional Explanations

This paper analyzes whether Dutch municipalities have become greener between 1999 and 2014 by investigating whether they implement different unit-based pricing systems. Based on their incentive, systems are ranged from green (‘weight’) to less green (‘volume’) or no green (‘flat rate’). In one third of the municipalities, shifts took place, with 83 percent becoming greener and 17 percent less greener. Political fragmentation (measured in three ways) plays a key role in explaining these shifts. There is less evidence for political motivation. Particularly, conservative liberals are not in favor of unit-based pricing, whereas social liberals are in favor. In addition, municipalities in rural and shrinking areas are more in favor of unit-based pricing as well