This is a study of the globalization of environmental degradation using time-series and panel regression analyses of cross-national data. It will compare a variety of theories, including neo-Malthusianism, modernization theory, world system/dependency theory, ecological-evolutionary/human ecology theory, and state-centric theories of political development. Dependent variables will include rates of greenhouse gas production, deforestation, air pollution, toxic wastes, and other measures of land, soil and water degradation. This research will contribute greatly to our understanding of how social factors contribute to environmental degradation, thus providing information and insights for policy makers concerned with protecting the environment. In addition to this valuable contribution to public policy, the study will advance social science by testing several of the major competing theories of how society operates.
