Bruce Clemens

A framework of theoretical lenses and strategic purposes to describe relationships among firm environmental strategy, financial performance, and environmental performance

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the type of theoretical lens and strategic purpose impacts the relationships among firm environmental strategy, financial performance, and environmental performance. Design/methodology/approach - This is a theoretical paper which first investigates three constructs: firm environmental strategy, environmental performance, and economic performance. Scholars have argued for different relationships among the three constructs. The paper then discusses two theoretical lenses (strategic choice and the resource-based view) and two strategic purposes (stakeholder and shareholder) used in the literature. The paper argues that the type of theoretical lens and strategic purpose will impact the way the three constructs (firm environmental strategy, financial performance, and environmental performance) are arranged. Findings - The paper provides a two-by-two matrix distinguishing between theoretical lens and strategic purpose. The paper argues that the specific choice of theoretical lens and strategic purpose helps define the way firm environmental strategy, financial performance, and environmental performance are arranged. Originality/value - As different scholars have argued for different relationships among the three constructs, this paper provides a framework that could help justify the seemingly paradoxical relationships. The paper concludes with ideas for future research on these issues.

To What Degree Can Potable Water Foster International Economic Development and Sustainability? What Role Does Health Play?

Governments, international organizations, and practitioners have long proclaimed that investments in potable water supply and sanitation and improvements in public health lead to economic development in the developing world. Unfortunately, scholars have not been able to quantify these relationships for a plethora of reasons. This study found significant, positive relationships between investments in integrated projects of potable water supply combined with sanitation and public health and economic development. The study also moderately supported the hypothesis that the relationship between investments in such projects and economic development is stronger in the presence of better health. The article concludes with hopes that the strength of the findings could encourage greater international investment to promote rural sustainability. In particular, the findings buoy calls for supporting indigenous organizations based in rural areas with integrated methodologies that encourage consciousness-level raising in addition to addressing the pressing needs of potable water and basic sanitation.

Reliable categories of environmental policies

This paper synthesises and tests a categorisation of environmental policies. The literature review presented reveals that a number of different typologies have been used in the past, creating the potential for conceptual confusion. Based on the review and unstructured interviews with steel industry experts, we propose a three-category typology. A 41-item instrument was created to test the typology. Results from empirical testing in the steel industry indicate that the measures created for this typology are reliable.