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eCommons@Texas State University - Erin C. Tresner: Factors Affecting States' Ranking on the 2007 Forbes List of America's Greenest States
The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20100621075407/http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/293/
 

Title

Factors Affecting States' Ranking on the 2007 Forbes List of America's Greenest States

Document Type

Research Report

Comments


An Applied Research Project (Political Science 5397) Submitted to the Department of Political Science, Texas State University-San Marcos, in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration, Spring 2009.
Faculty Approval:
Dr. Patricia Shields
Dr. Christopher Brown
Stephanie L. Reyes, MPA

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate factors influencing states' ranking on the 2007 Forbes List of America's Greenest States. Scholarly literature supports four factors that influence a state's ranking on the Forbes List. These four factors are per capita expenditures on environmental programs, energy efficiency, level of liberalism, and political culture. The methodology used to determine the effects of these four factors on states' ranking on the Forbes List was analysis of existing data and a multiple regression analysis. The results of the study show that only energy efficiency affected states' ranking on the Forbes List. The relationship between energy efficiency and a state's ranking was positive. In conclusion, this research study is helpful in guiding researchers, administrators, and politicians by illustrating what factors do and do not affect states' ranking on the 2007 Forbes List of America's Greenest States, as well as what steps states may or may not be taking with respect to pro-environmental policy.