Cultural persistence in corruption, economic growth, and the environment
构建模型说明经济增长与环境质量的关系取决于对腐败态度的深层文化特征，文化传承导致腐败、污染与增长之间形成恶性或良性循环，对政策制定有重要启示。
Evidence that attributes current environmental outcomes to historical and cultural origins has gained momentum in recent years. In this study, I construct a model to demonstrate why the relation between economic growth and environmental quality hinges on the deeply rooted cultural traits that govern attitudes towards corruption. Specifically, I show that the cultural transmission of the traits that determine the corruptibility of public officials, who are entrusted with the inspection and reporting of firms’ emissions, leads to history-dependant outcomes. It sets in motion either a vicious circle of corruption, high pollution and low economic growth, or a virtuous circle where corruption does not infringe environmental policy, pollution is lower and economic growth is higher. These outcomes have major policy implications.