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Environmental Policy and Firm Selection in the Open Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Hartmut Egger
  • Udo Kreickemeier
  • Philipp M. Richter

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze 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 labor toward 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 this exerts in turn a positive feedback effect on the domestic environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Hartmut Egger & Udo Kreickemeier & Philipp M. Richter, 2021. "Environmental Policy and Firm Selection in the Open Economy," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 8(4), pages 655-690.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jaerec:doi:10.1086/713040
    DOI: 10.1086/713040
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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. Fabio Antoniou & Panos Hatzipanayotou & Nikos Tsakiris, 2024. "Regulatory Stringency and Emission Leakage Mitigation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(6), pages 1407-1424, June.
    4. Robin Sogalla & Joschka Wanner & Yuta Watabe, 2024. "New Trade Models, Same Old Emissions?," CESifo Working Paper Series 11596, CESifo.
    5. Yiming Zhou, 2025. "Industrial agglomeration, firm heterogeneity, and environmental pollution," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 24(3), pages 393-418, September.
    6. Kohl, Miriam & Richter, Philipp M., 2023. "Unilateral tax policy in the open economy," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    7. Kurz, Antonia, 2024. "Within-country leakage due to the exemption of small emitters from emissions pricing," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    8. Tao Song, 2024. "Pollution reduction by rationalization hypothesis and water pollution in China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Robin Sogalla & Joschka Wanner & Yuta Watabe, 2024. "New Trade Models, Same Old Emissions?," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2077, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    10. Chen, Yi-Fan, 2025. "Cap-and-trade system, firm selection, and emission intensity," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    11. 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.
    12. Sogalla, Robin & Wanner, Joschka & Watabe, Yuta, 2024. "New trade models, same old emissions?," Kiel Working Papers 2267, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
    13. Yangjie Liao & Xiaokun Zhou, 2024. "Real green or fake green? Impact of green credit policy on corporate ESG performance," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    14. 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).
    15. Nikos Tsakiris & Nikolaos Vlassis, 2024. "Border Carbon Adjustments and Leakage in the Presence of Public Pollution Abatement Activities," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(9), pages 2231-2258, September.
    16. Wanner,Joschka & WATABE,Yuta, 2025. "Multinational Production, Trade, and Carbon Emissions," IDE Discussion Papers 965, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    17. Watabe,Yuta & Sogalla,Robin & Wanner,Joschka, 2024. "New Trade Models, Same Old Emissions?," IDE Discussion Papers 926, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    18. 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.
    19. Lai, Yu-Bong, 2024. "International emissions trading and the distribution of capital," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).

    More about this item

    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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