Is free trade good for the environment?

Citation
W. Antweiler et al., Is free trade good for the environment?, AM ECON REV, 91(4), 2001, pp. 877-908
Citations number
26
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Economics
Journal title
AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
ISSN journal
0002-8282 → ACNP
Volume
91
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
877 - 908
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-8282(200109)91:4<877:IFTGFT>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
This paper investigates how openness to international goods markets affects pollution concentrations. We develop a theoretical model to divide trade's impact on pollution into scale, technique, and composition effects and the n examine this theory using data on sulfur dioxide concentrations. We find international trade creates relatively small changes in pollution concentra tions when it alters the composition of national output. Estimates of the t rade-induced technique and scale effects imply a net reduction in pollution from these sources. Combining our estimates of all three effects yields a somewhat surprising conclusion: freer trade appears to be good for the .