Information technologies, community characteristics and environmental outcomes: Evidence from South Korea

Abstract

While a growing body of literature suggests the regulatory potential of information and communication technologies for pollution abatement, empirical evidence on the subject remains limited. This research examines whether, and how, the provision of pollution information through government websites helps to address environmental harm in the context of developing countries. Drawing insights from the relevant literature, we construct and test hypotheses about informational and socio-demographic factors that are likely to explain the effectiveness of Internet-aided emission violations control in urban communities as perceived by environmental regulators. Findings from regression analysis indicate that decreases in emission violations as perceived by environmental field officials are: (1) attributable to the quality of municipal websites and local environmental activism; and (2) negatively related to population size. The research highlights the potential in municipalities' initiatives to utilise Internet technologies to provide access to rich environmental information and communication channels that facilitate interactions between citizens, grassroots groups, and regulatory agencies in putting community pressure on polluters. © 2012 University of Newcastle upon Tyne.