This paper uses European Social Survey (ESS) and Eurostat data to analyze the relationship between economic conditions (measured with a recession dummy variable, unemployment rates, and real GDP per capita) and environmental preferences (measured with an environmental valuation question and country-specific green party voting data). We disaggregate the economic indicators to the regional level and investigate an extended timeframe (2002-2017) to take full advantage of the diversity of Europe. We find that higher unemployment rates and lower real GDP per capita are associated with lower environmental concern and green party voting outcomes. Furthermore, the recession dummy is associated with reduced green voting even when the economic indicators are included, suggesting an effect of the recession itself, independent of fewer job opportunities and decreased wealth. This paper sheds light on questions of environmental policy feasibility and the microfoundations of the relationship between economic conditions and environmental preferences.
