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International Trade and the Environment: Three Remaining Empirical Challenges

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Abstract

Considerable progress that has been made in our understanding of the relationship between international trade and the environment since Gene Grossman and Alan Krueger published their now seminal working paper examining the potential environmental effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1991. This review uses their original paper as a guide to highlight key developments along three main branches of research that all stem from their analysis: (i) the interaction between international trade, economic growth, and environmental outcomes, (ii) the role of environmental regulation in determining trade and investment flows, and (iii) estimating the relative magnitudes of the scale, composition, and technique effects induced by trade. It discusses key developments along each branch, with a particular focus on the empirical challenges that have impeded progress. It also highlights an area along each branch that is ripe for further study. These areas are termed the Three Remaining Challenges.

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  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:car:carecp:22-03
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International Trade and the Environment; Environmental Kuznets Curve; Pollution Haven Hypothesis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • F64 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Environment
    • O44 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Environment and Growth
    • 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

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