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International environmental outsourcing

Author

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  • Matthew Cole
  • Robert Elliott
  • Toshihiro Okubo

Abstract

In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of firms shifting stages of their production processes overseas. In this paper we investigate whether firms outsource the dirtier stages of production to minimise domestic environmental regulation costs—a process broadly consistent with the pollution haven hypothesis. We develop a theoretical model of international environmental outsourcing that focuses on the roles played by firm size and productivity, transport costs and environmental regulations. We test the model’s predictions using a firm-level dataset for Japan and do find evidence of an ‘environmental outsourcing’ effect. Copyright Kiel Institute 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Cole & Robert Elliott & Toshihiro Okubo, 2014. "International environmental outsourcing," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 150(4), pages 639-664, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:weltar:v:150:y:2014:i:4:p:639-664
    DOI: 10.1007/s10290-014-0193-6
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Damien Dussaux & Francesco Vona & Antoine Dechezleprêtre, 2020. "Carbon Offshoring: Evidence from French Manufacturing Companies," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03403069, HAL.
    2. Banerjee, Soumendra Nath & Roy, Jayjit & Yasar, Mahmut, 2021. "Exporting and pollution abatement expenditure: Evidence from firm-level data," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    3. Muhammad, Sulaman & Long, Xingle & Salman, Muhammad & Dauda, Lamini, 2020. "Effect of urbanization and international trade on CO2 emissions across 65 belt and road initiative countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    4. Toshihiro Okubo & Yuta Watabe & Kaori Furuyama, 2016. "Export of Recyclable Materials: Evidence from Japan," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 15(1), pages 134-148, Winter/Sp.
    5. Jota Ishikawa & Toshihiro Okubo, 2017. "Greenhouse-Gas Emission Controls and Firm Locations in North–South Trade," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 67(4), pages 637-660, August.
    6. Damien Dussaux & Francesco Vona & Antoine Dechezleprêtre, 2023. "Imported carbon emissions: Evidence from French manufacturing companies," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(2), pages 593-621, May.
    7. Helble, Matthias & Majoe, Adam, 2020. "Can Environmental Regulations Drive International Trade? Lessons for Asia from the European Union’s Performance of Buildings Directive," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 35(1), pages 69-90.
    8. Saussay, Aurélien & Zugravu-Soilita, Natalia, 2023. "International production chains and the pollution offshoring hypothesis: An empirical investigation," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    9. Dardati, Evangelina & Saygili, Meryem, 2021. "Are exporters cleaner? Another look at the trade-environment nexus," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    10. Roy, Jayjit, 2017. "On the environmental consequences of intra-industry trade," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 50-67.
    11. Maoliang Bu & Marcus Wagner, 2016. "Racing to the bottom and racing to the top: The crucial role of firm characteristics in foreign direct investment choices," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(9), pages 1032-1057, December.
    12. Cole, Matthew A. & Elliott, Robert J.R. & Okubo, Toshihiro & Zhang, Liyun, 2021. "Importing, outsourcing and pollution offshoring," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    13. Takeshi Iida & Arijit Mukherjee, 2020. "Make and buy in a polluting industry," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 22(6), pages 1852-1874, December.
    14. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/7j6trda2ip9uja53ghj5qo32rg is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental regulations; Trade; Outsourcing; Firm level; F18; F23; L51; L60; Q56; R3;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • R3 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location

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