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The impacts of energy prices on industrial foreign investment location: evidence from global firm level data

Author

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  • Aurélien Saussay

    (CIRED & OFCE, Sciences Po, Paris)

  • Misato Sato

    (Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, LSE)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the role of energy prices in firms’ investment location decisions in the manufacturing sector. Building on the application of discrete choice theory to the firm location problem, we specify a conditional logit model linking bilateral foreign direct investment (FDI activity to relative energy prices. We then empirically test this link using a global dataset of M&A deals in the manufacturing sector covering 41 countries between 1995 and 2014, using econometric techniques adapted from the estimation of gravity models. The results suggest that upon deciding to invest, firms are attracted to regions that have lower energy prices. However, counterfactual simulations reveal that unilateral implementation of a $50/tCO2 carbon tax by various coalitions of countries is expected to have limited negative impact on the attractiveness of economies to foreign industrial investments. Hence, our results support the pollution haven effect, but find the magnitude is limited and could be addressed with targeted measures in the most energy intensive sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Aurélien Saussay & Misato Sato, 2018. "The impacts of energy prices on industrial foreign investment location: evidence from global firm level data," Working Papers 2018.21, FAERE - French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
  • Handle: RePEc:fae:wpaper:2018.21
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    3. Damien Dussaux & Francesco Vona & Antoine Dechezleprêtre, 2023. "Imported carbon emissions: Evidence from French manufacturing companies," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(2), pages 593-621, May.
    4. Manderson, Edward J. & Kneller, Richard, 2020. "Energy endowments and the location of manufacturing firms," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    5. Bijnens, Gert & Hutchinson, John & Konings, Jozef & Saint Guilhem, Arthur, 2021. "The interplay between green policy, electricity prices, financial constraints and jobs: firm-level evidence," Working Paper Series 2537, European Central Bank.
    6. Saussay, Aurélien & Zugravu-Soilita, Natalia, 2023. "International production chains and the pollution offshoring hypothesis: An empirical investigation," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    7. Michael Reiter & Christian Kimmich & Elisabeth Laa & Daniel Schmidtner & Adrian Wende & Klaus Weyerstraß, 2024. "Auswirkungen von Energiepreisen auf Österreichs Exportwirtschaft," FIW Research Reports series y:2024:m:05, FIW.
    8. Böschemeier, Jonas & Jochem, Axel, 2024. "The effect of foreign carbon prices on German outward FDI," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    9. Dussaux, Damien & Monjon, Stéphanie, 2023. "Selling under other skies when energy prices skyrocket: How do the companies adapt their export strategy when energy prices rise?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    10. repec:hal:cesptp:hal-04248556 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Li, Minghui & Liu, Chong & Shen, Chaohai, 2020. "Does cheap electricity in a target's location add value to the acquirer? Evidence from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    12. Cole, Matthew A. & Elliott, Robert J.R. & Okubo, Toshihiro & Zhang, Liyun, 2021. "Importing, outsourcing and pollution offshoring," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    13. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/7j6trda2ip9uja53ghj5qo32rg is not listed on IDEAS
    14. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/7j6trda2ip9uja53ghj5qo32rg is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    FDI; Mergers and Acquisitions; energy prices; firm location; competitiveness impacts; carbon leakage;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F64 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Environment
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects

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