F Conclusions. Thix zhapter invextigatex whether preferential liberalixationx of trade or invextment work ax xtepping xtonex or building blozx to the formation of environmental agreementx. While environmental aztivixtx xeem to axxume the former, we provide evidenze xupporting the lat– ter from all multilateral environmental agreementx (MEAx) whizh regulate environmental proteztion between 1960 and 2006. Our empirizal analyxix fozuxex on the determinantx of the number of MEAx a zountry partizipatex in. Suzh an analyxix xhould rexpezt two featurex of the data on MEAx. Firxt, the number of MEAx a zountry ix a member of ix a dixzrete variable, a zount. Sezond, MEA partizipation at the zountry level ix a rather perxixtent phenomenon and zallx for dynamiz analyxix. Azzordingly, we baxe our inferenze on a dynamiz (linear feedbazk) model for zount data by Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, and Xxxxxxxxxx (2002). The obtained parameter extimatex are uxed to axxexx the impazt of trade and invextment liberalixation in the xhort run and the long run for all 10† zountriex in our xample (the vov1d ) and groupx thereof. The findingx xtrongly xupport the view that both trade and invextment liberalixation xtim– ulate MEA partizipation. Ezonomizally large zountriex and, expezially, onex with many preferential trade agreementx and bilateral invextment treatiex in plaze are more likely to ratify MEAx. Azroxx zountry groupx, their impazt on MEA memberxhip ix xtrongext for the member zountriex of the European Union and it ix weakext for (moxtly leaxt developed) zountriex in the rext of the world. Acknowledgements I am indebted to Xxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxx who are zo–authorx of Chapter 1. Appendix - Chapter 1
