Since 1960, Democratic presidents have achieved higher average annual rates of real GDP growth than Republic Presidents. As concern about global warming mounts among scientists, policy-makers, and citizens, how do the different presidents fare on CO2 emissions? Reading from left to right we have Bush II, Bush I, Nixon/Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and JFK/LBJ. Higher growth rates of real GDP per capita are strongly correlated (r=0.72) with higher growth rates of emissions. Of course, correlation does not prove causation, but it should give pause for concern about the difficult tradeoffs society faces concerning future emissions and economic growth.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Presidents, Economic Growth, and CO2 Emissions' Growth
Since 1960, Democratic presidents have achieved higher average annual rates of real GDP growth than Republic Presidents. As concern about global warming mounts among scientists, policy-makers, and citizens, how do the different presidents fare on CO2 emissions? Reading from left to right we have Bush II, Bush I, Nixon/Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and JFK/LBJ. Higher growth rates of real GDP per capita are strongly correlated (r=0.72) with higher growth rates of emissions. Of course, correlation does not prove causation, but it should give pause for concern about the difficult tradeoffs society faces concerning future emissions and economic growth.
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