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In Search of Environmental Spillovers

Author

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  • Facundo Albornoz
  • Matthew A Cole
  • Robert J R Elliott
  • Marco G Ercolani

Abstract

There is an extensive literature that examines the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and the productivity and competitiveness of domestic firms. Using estimation techniques from the productivity spillover literature, this paper tests for the presence of environmental spillovers from foreign firms. On the basis that foreign owned firms may encourage firms in their extended supply chain to improve their environment related management practices, evidence for the existence of environmental spillovers should be easier to find than productivity spillovers where firms naturally attempt to minimize intra-industry knowledge leakage. In this paper we show that first, foreign owned firms are more likely to implement environmental management systems (EMS) and second, that the presence of foreign owned firms in those sectors that a firm supplies can encourage good environmental practice. This is especially true if a firm is foreign, has high absorptive capacity, and operates in the presence of formal and informal networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Facundo Albornoz & Matthew A Cole & Robert J R Elliott & Marco G Ercolani, 2008. "In Search of Environmental Spillovers," Discussion Papers 08-03, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham.
  • Handle: RePEc:bir:birmec:08-03
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multinationals; Environment; Firm Characteristics; Spillovers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - 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

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