A new theory for the explanation of the NIMBY effect

摘要

In the last decades several attempts were introduced to explain NIMBY effects and some of their correlates. Some acronyms, (i.e., LULY, BANANA, etc.) try, unsuccessfully, to capture the NO phenomena. This paper would present a new conceptualisation of the NIMBY effect. It will be proposed that is a phenomena that results from a conjoint effect of a specific risk perception that tend to be general and national if not global, never local and the working of a social dilemma. Thus data it will presented that a shows a high level of risk perception in the European societies (with a specific emphasis to Portugal), particularly in what concerns industrial activity and waste management. It would be shown that the most probable local answer to a certain infra-structure sitting is, at least, a certain level of refusal. However one could be more specific using the social dilemma theory in order of explaining why a certain region, pointed to be the target of a certain infra-structure, would strengthen the No reaction, while, at the same time, others would consider the very same sitting as positive. The pointed region is caught in what we proposed to be described as an inverse social dilemma. Following this analysis, for a given individual living in a proposed site it is always more rational to oppose to the construction then to be in favor.