Resumen de Drought and Environmental Opinion: A Study of Attitudes toward Water Policy

Bradford H. Bishop

• Previous research into place effects has provided mixed evidence about the effect of geography on public opinion. Much of the work finding a relationship is susceptible to methodological criticisms of spuriousness or endogeneity. In this paper, I leverage a unique research design to examine the influence of residential setting on environmental attitudes regarding water use. The findings indicate that local drought conditions increase individuals� level of concern about the nation�s water supply. In addition, drought conditions are related to public attitudes toward water use regulation, with those living in drought-afflicted counties more likely to support government regulation. This study provides a firm foundation for research attempting to demonstrate that local conditions have a causal effect on public opinion.