Replication Data for: Climate Crisis and Policy Inaction in Indonesia

We surveyed voters and politicians in advance of the 2024 Indonesian election to measure preferences for environmental policy. We find that politicians underestimate voter concerns. We conducted an informational experiment with politicians to correct these misperceptions, and we document evidence of learning but no greater support for policy action. We explore three explanations for why voter preferences do not translate into policy. First, politicians only consider acting when their initial misperceptions are particularly large. Second, elite capture prevents politicians from implementing environmental protection. Third, voters prioritize progress in other domains. Our results underscore the multiplicity of challenges facing climate action.

本研究于2024年印度尼西亚大选前夕，针对选民与政客展开调研，以量化评估二者对环境政策的偏好取向。研究发现，政客普遍低估了选民的环保关切程度。我们针对政客开展了信息实验以纠正这类认知偏差，结果证实政客确实实现了认知更新，但并未因此提升对环境政策行动的支持度。针对选民环保偏好未能转化为政策的原因，我们提出三种解释路径：其一，仅当初始认知偏差幅度足够显著时，政客才会考虑采取政策行动；其二，精英俘获（elite capture）会阻碍政客推进环境保护工作；其三，选民会优先考量其他领域的政策进展。本研究结果凸显了气候行动所面临的多重挑战。