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North-South Displacement Effects of Environmental Regulation: The Case of Battery Recycling

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  • Shinsuke Tanaka
  • Kensuke Teshima
  • Eric Verhoogen

Abstract

This study examines the effect of a tightening of the US air quality standard for lead in 2009 on the relocation of battery recycling to Mexico and on infant health in Mexico. In the United States, air-borne lead dropped sharply near affected plants, most of which were battery-recycling plants. Exports of used batteries to Mexico rose markedly. In Mexico, production increased at battery-recycling plants relative to comparable industries, and birth outcomes deteriorated within two miles of those plants relative to areas slightly farther away. The case provides a salient example of a pollution-haven effect between a developed and a developing country.

Suggested Citation

  • Shinsuke Tanaka & Kensuke Teshima & Eric Verhoogen, 2022. "North-South Displacement Effects of Environmental Regulation: The Case of Battery Recycling," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 4(3), pages 271-288, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aerins:v:4:y:2022:i:3:p:271-88
    DOI: 10.1257/aeri.20210201
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    Cited by:

    1. Jevan Cherniwchan & M.Scott Taylor, 2022. "International Trade and the Environment: Three Remaining Empirical Challenges," Carleton Economic Papers 22-03, Carleton University, Department of Economics.
    2. Qian Zhao & Chi-Wei Su, 2023. "The Nexus Between Air Pollution and Outward Foreign Direct Investment," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440221, January.
    3. Juan Huang & Ziyi Wu, 2022. "Impact of Environmental Regulations on Export Trade—Empirical Analysis Based on Zhejiang Province," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Higney, Anthony & Hanley, Nick & Moro, Mirko, 2022. "The lead-crime hypothesis: A meta-analysis," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    5. Naumann, Fabrice & Bolz, Simon Johannes & Richter, Philipp Moritz, 2022. "Offshoring and Environmental Policy: Firm Selection and Distributional Effects," VfS Annual Conference 2022 (Basel): Big Data in Economics 264086, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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