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The great U.S. emissions migration

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  • Hill, Alexander

Abstract

Migration of U.S. residents across counties impacts energy consumption and, as a result, the environment. This paper leverages county-level migration data, structural energy consumption estimation techniques, and the AP3 environmental damage model to estimate the emissions impact of migration by county over time. Migration is found to have reduced U.S. environmental damage by $213 billion over the period 1991–2019, with average annual environmental benefits of $15 billion in the 1990s but -$2 billion in the 2010s. The paper also finds a significant reduction in the cost of emissions from energy consumption over time. (JEL Q51, Q56, J11, R23, Q48)

Suggested Citation

  • Hill, Alexander, 2024. "The great U.S. emissions migration," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:127:y:2024:i:c:s0095069624000925
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2024.103018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bollino, Carlo Andrea & Galeotti, Marzio, "undated". "Native-borns and migrants do not contribute equally to domestic CO2 emissions," FEEM Working Papers 369003, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    2. Carlo Andrea Bollino & Marzio Galeotti, 2025. "Native-borns and migrants do not contribute equally to domestic CO2 emissions," Working Papers 2025.17, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • 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
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

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