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Globalization and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Evidence from the United States

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  • Claire Brunel
  • Arik Levinson

Abstract

The US has been a global leader in regulating local air pollution and a global laggard in regulating greenhouse gases (GHGs). For decades, critics of US policy have expressed fears that stringent US regulations on local air pollution would lead to pollution havens overseas. Prior research, suggests that has not happened. But what about the converse fear? Are the less stringent US climate regulations causing the US to become a pollution haven for other countries’ GHG-intensive industries? We provide a decomposition of US manufacturing GHG emissions and find no evidence of offshoring either to or from the United States since 1990.

Suggested Citation

  • Claire Brunel & Arik Levinson, 2021. "Globalization and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Evidence from the United States," NBER Working Papers 28372, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28372
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    Cited by:

    1. Jevan Cherniwchan & M.Scott Taylor, 2022. "International Trade and the Environment: Three Remaining Empirical Challenges," Carleton Economic Papers 22-03, Carleton University, Department of Economics.
    2. Felipe Avilés-Lucero & Gabriel Peraita & Camilo Valladares, 2023. "CO2 mitigation from a national accounts’ perspect," Economic Statistics Series 140, Central Bank of Chile.
    3. Koutchogna Kokou Edem Assogbavi & Stéphane Dées, 2023. "Environmental Policy and the CO2 Emissions Embodied in International Trade," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 84(2), pages 507-527, February.
    4. Polina Ustyuzhanina, 2022. "Decomposition of air pollution emissions from Swedish manufacturing," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 24(2), pages 195-223, April.

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    JEL classification:

    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • 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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