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Environmental policy and firm selection in the open economy

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  • Kreickemeier, Udo
  • Richter, Philipp M.

Abstract

In this paper, we analyse the effects of a unilateral change in an emissions tax in a model of international trade with heterogeneous firms. We find a positive effect of tighter environmental policy on average productivity in the reforming country through reallocation of labour towards exporting firms. Domestic aggregate emissions fall, due to both a scale and a technique effect, but we show that the reduction in emissions following the tax increase is smaller than in autarky. Moreover, general equilibrium effects through changes in the foreign wage rate lead to a reduction in foreign emissions and, hence, to negative emissions leakage in case of transboundary pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Kreickemeier, Udo & Richter, Philipp M., 2019. "Environmental policy and firm selection in the open economy," CEPIE Working Papers 04/19, Technische Universität Dresden, Center of Public and International Economics (CEPIE).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:tudcep:0419
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Qi, Yu & Shao, Shuai & Tian, Zhihua & Xu, Yang & Yin, Jun, 2022. "Environmental consequences of fair competition: Evidence from China's corporate income tax merger policy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    2. Liming Hong & Wei Huang & Sajid Anwar & Xiaofeng Lv, 2023. "North–South asymmetry, unilateral environmental policy and carbon tariffs," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 241-266, May.
    3. Kohl, Miriam & Richter, Philipp M., 2023. "Unilateral tax policy in the open economy," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    4. 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.
    5. Finkelstein Shapiro, Alan & Metcalf, Gilbert E., 2023. "The macroeconomic effects of a carbon tax to meet the U.S. Paris agreement target: The role of firm creation and technology adoption," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    6. Hamaguchi, Yoshihiro, 2023. "Environmental tax evasion as a determinant of the Porter and pollution haven hypotheses in a corrupt political system," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 610-633.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Strategic Environmental Policy; Firm Location; Carbon Leakage; General Equilibrium; Trade and environment; Heterogeneous firms; Unilateral environmental policy; Emissions leakage;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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