Pollution and informal economy

In this study, we investigate the relationship between the size of the informal economy and the level of environmental pollution/energy use. To this end, we first use different indicators of environmental pollution along with a measure of energy use intensity in a panel dataset consisting of 152 countries over the period 1999–2009 and empirically examine the relationship between pollution and the shadow economy. The estimation results show that there is an inverse-U relationship between the size of the informal economy and environmental pollution, that is, small and large sizes of the informal economy are associated with lower environmental pollution and medium levels of informality are associated with higher levels of environmental pollution. Next, we build a two sector dynamic general equilibrium model to suggest an economic mechanism for this observation. Our model identifies two channels through which informality might affect environmental pollution: The scale effect, whereby a larger (smaller) informal economy size is associated with a lower (higher) level of environmental pollution, and the deregulation effect, whereby a larger (smaller) informal economy is associated with higher (lower) pollution levels. As these two effects work in opposite directions, the changing relative strength of one with respect to the informal sector size creates the inverted-U relationship between pollution indicators and informality.     

Linear production function,externalities and indeterminacy in a capital-resource growth model

This paper investigates the equilibrium growth dynamics of an economy whose production is based on natural resources and which seeks to maximize welfare to the local community. This involves determining the optimal trajectories of consumption in the local area and the use of the environmental resource. Economic dynamics are affected by negative environmental externalities which are explicitly included as unfavourable effects in a linear production function. The analysis shows the existence of local and global indeterminacy.     

Optimal pest control in agriculture

Based on economic methodology we model an ecosystem with two species in predator–prey relationship: mice feed on grain and grain feeds on a resource. With optimizing behavior of individual organisms a short-run ecosystem equilibrium is defined and characterized that depends on the farmer's use of fertilizer and pesticide and on the mice population which, in turn, is affected by pesticides. In that way, a microfounded agricultural production function is derived. Linking a sequence of short-run ecosystem equilibria yields the growth function of the mice population which is thus derived rather than assumed. In each period the farmer harvests all grain in excess of some given amount of seed. If she maximizes her present-value profits, optimal farming is characterized by either using no pesticide or a moderate amount of pesticide or by applying a chattering control. Pest eradication is never optimal. On the other hand, if the farmer takes into account steady-state mice populations only, it may be optimal to eradicate mice or to use no or a moderate amount of pesticide depending on prices as well as on the shape of the grain production function which is determined by microparameters of grain reproduction.     

How does stakeholder engagement through environmental,social, and governance affect eco-efficiency and profitability efficiency? Zooming into Apple Inc.'s counterparts

As global ecological degradation intensifies, a trade-off has arisen between environmental protection and production efficiency to achieve sustainable development for the environment, society, and the company itself. However, the potential reverse causality relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and corporate efficiency may lead to confusion. This study estimates the eco-efficiency of Apple Incorporated's value-chain counterparts in the first stage and creates values and profitability in the second stage of efficiency evaluation. Results obtained from the (i) directional distance function in the two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA), (ii) additive efficiency decomposition two-stage network DEA model, and (iii) network slacks-based measure model are consistent. That is, Apple counterparts manage more efficient eco-efficiency than profitability efficiency, implying that eco-efficiency is their competitive advantage. We thus also run a regression analysis to examine how the ESG ratings of Apple counterparts explain their eco-efficiency and profitability efficiency. Although the overall ESG rating positively explains the efficiencies, we found that the individual governance rating shows no statistically significant effect. The regression results provide insight for practitioners on the importance of investing in the three aspects of a firm's collective conscientiousness for societal and environmental governance. This paper integrates companies' eco-efficiency and profitability efficiency to resolve the conflict between environmental issues and production efficiency. It also analyzes in depth the effects of ESG and its three individual factors on eco-, profitability, and average efficiencies. The diversity of research methods also provides new ideas for future research related to firm efficiency.     

A Consistent Formulation of the Leontief Pollution Model

We consider the environmental Leontief model, which is an input–output model augmented by pollution-generation and pollution-abatement sectors. Two formulations of this model, dating back to Leontief's work in 1970, can be found in the literature. One formulation treats an exogenously given vector of the tolerated level of pollutants (environmental standards) as a negative variable on the right-hand side of the model. The other formulation supposes that each industry eliminates a given proportion of the pollution that it creates, so that the proportions of gross pollutants which are subject to treatment by each sector enter as given parameters. Even in the case when the levels of production and abatement in the two different model formulations are equal, the solutions of the dual or price model are different for cases where some net pollution is left untreated. First, the analytical relationship between the two price models is established. Secondly, both models formulated in a linear programming framework are extended by imposing emission charges (effluent taxes) for untreated pollution. Finally, it will be shown how to estimate the level of emission charges for both model formulations such that they provide the same levels of production and abatement, as well as the same shadow prices. This is illustrated by a numerical example.     

Transboundary pollution externalities: Think globally,act locally?

We analyze the implications of transboundary pollution externalities on environmental policymaking in a spatial setting, in which pollution diffuses across the global spatial economy independently of the specific location in which it is originally generated. This framework gives rise to a simple regional optimal pollution control problem allowing us to compare the global and local solutions in which, respectively, the transboundary externality is and is not taken into account in the determination of the optimal policy by individual local policymakers. We show that it is not obvious that transboundary externalities are a source of inefficiency per se since this is strictly related to the spatial features of the initial distribution of pollution. If the initial pollution distribution is spatially homogeneous then the local and global solutions will coincide and thus no efficiency loss will arise from transboundary externalities, but if it is spatially heterogeneous the local solution will be suboptimal and thus a global approach to environmental problems will be needed to achieve efficiency. From a normative perspective, in this latter (and most realistic) case we also quantify the amount of policy intervention needed at local level in order to achieve the globally desirable goal of pollution eradication in the long run. Our conclusions hold true in a number of different settings, including situations in which the spatial domain is either bounded or unbounded, and situations in which macroeconomic–environmental feedback effects are taken into account.     

On the existence,uniqueness and stability of spatial equilibrium in an open city with externalities

This paper deals with the existence, uniqueness and stability of a spatial equilibrium in an open city with external diseconomies like air pollution generated by manufacturing activities. First, assuming that both production functions and utility functions are Cobb-Douglas, we prove the existence of a spatial equilibrium under some reasonable assumptions. It is shown, however, that the uniqueness and stability of the equilibrium may not be obtained, unless the degree of externality is sufficiently small. In fact, none of the equilibria will be stable for a certain set of speeds of adjustment in the labor market and the land market, if the degree of externality is relatively large. Finally, some implications of our results are derived in regard to the application of the hedonic price concept within the context of a spatial equilibrium model.     

Environmental quality standards: A general equilibrium analysis

The increasing importance of pollution controls as a part of government regulatory activities has motivated considerable concern about the economic impact of these activities. This question is of considerable importance, because environmental quality goals are sometimes in conflict with other objectives such as full employment and economic growth. Policy-makers are thus faced with the task of identifying and measuring the trade-offs between these various objectives. But the measurement of these objectives requires information on their economic impacts. This paper develops a general equilibrium model with pollution specifications which can be used to identify the economic impacts of pollution-control policies. The particular pollution-control policy addressed is an environmental standards approach. The model is based on a technique that combines an explicit representation of consumer demand behaviour vis-à-vis linear aggregate demand functions with activity analysis.     

The effect of environmental regulation on environmental innovation

Environmental expenditure estimates resulting from US environmental policy are based on current technology which may overstate policy's true costs. Existing evidence shows that ex ante cost estimates are greater than realized costs due to unexpected technological progress. This research programme asks whether innovation is a response to environmental regulation or whether the true regulatory compliance costs are overestimated ex ante when technological advancement is ignored? The author conducts an empirical study of the US manufacturing industry's environmental patent activities and environmental regulation as measured by pollution abatement and control expenditure (PACE) data. She finds a statistically significant positive relationship between environmental regulation and innovation when estimated by ordinary least squares (OLS). However, the OLS coefficient of pollution abatement costs is inconsistent because of a correlation between the explanatory variable and unobservable variables. Two-staged least squares addresses the inconsistency problem, resulting in positive and significant PACE coefficients. Thus, there is evidence that innovation is a response to environmental regulation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

USING HAPPINESS DATA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL VALUATION: ISSUES AND APPLICATIONS

Abstract.  In addition to standard methods of environmental valuation, a novel approach has recently emerged which models individuals' self-rated happiness as a function of their incomes and the prevailing environmental conditions. The estimated relationship is used to calculate the trade-off people would be willing to make between income and environmental conditions, i.e. the increase in income necessary to compensate individuals for any given decline in environmental quality. While the basic idea is simple, the theoretical and empirical details may be complex, and they may vary from application to application. This paper discusses the relevant conceptual and methodological issues and reviews applications to air and water pollution, noise nuisance, climate parameters, and natural hazards.     

State-imposed solutions to negative externalities: employment impact of pollution abatement policy

Musgrave was acutely aware that many private activities, both consumption and production, generate negative externalities. Advocates for an active government rely on this concept to justify public sector regulation of private activities. Regulations and mandates, along with penalties for non-compliance, are the primary instruments used by government to bring about the “correct” level of output whenever private output gives rise to negative externalities such as environmental pollution. This study in effect offers a case study of the Clean Air Act on employment, i.e., it empirically investigates whether pollution abatement costs have had a negative impact on manufacturing employment in the U.S. Conventional microeconomic theory suggests that there is a trade-off between environmental protection outlays and manufacturing activity, i.e., higher pollution abatement compliance costs borne by industries may contribute to plant shutdowns, lower production levels and lay-offs, and/or lack of investment, thereby leading to diminished manufacturing employment. Existing studies fail to offer a clear conclusion as to the impact of existing environmental protection measures on manufacturing activity. Using state-level data for 2001, this study finds that government-imposed pollution abatement costs have had a statistically significant negative impact on manufacturing employment in the U.S. Richard J. Cebula, Shirley and Philip Solomons Eminent Scholar.     

Differentiated goods in a dynamic Cournot duopoly with emission charges on output

We extend the dynamic Cournot duopoly framework with emission charges on output by Mamada and Perrings (Econ Anal Policy 66:370–380, 2020), which encompassed homogeneous products in its original formulation, to the more general case of differentiated goods, in order to highlight the richness in its static and dynamic outcomes. Each firm is taxed proportionally to its own emission only and charge functions are quadratic. Moreover, due to an adjustment capacity constraint, firms partially modify their output level toward the best response. Like in Mamada and Perrings (Econ Anal Policy 66:370–380, 2020), the only steady state coincides with the Nash equilibrium, and it will be considered admissible when it guarantees the positivity of the marginal emission charge. We find that the full efficacy of the environmental policy, which applies to an equilibrium that is globally asymptotically stable anytime it is admissible, is achieved in the case of independent goods, as well as with a low good interdependence degree in absolute value, independently of being substitutes or complements. When goods are substitutes and their interdependence degree is high, the considered environmental policy is still able to reduce pollution at the equilibrium, but the latter is stable just when the policy intensity degree is large enough. When instead goods are complements and their interdependence degree is high in absolute value, the considered environmental policy produces detrimental effects on the pollution level and the unique equilibrium is always unstable, when admissible. This highlights that, from the static viewpoint, even in the absence of free riding possibilities, the choice of the mechanism to implement has to be carefully pondered, according to the features of the considered economy.

     

OPTIMIZING PRODUCTION IN THE GREEK ECONOMY: EXPLORING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND SOLID WASTE VIA INPUT–OUTPUT ANALYSIS

We explore an input–output based framework for optimizing production in the Greek economy, under constraints relating to energy use, final demand, greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste. Using empirical data, we consider the effects on the maximum attainable gross value of production when imposing various pollution abatement targets. Our results quantify those effects as well as the magnitude of economic sacrifices required to achieve environmental goals, in a series of policy scenarios of practical importance. Because air pollution and solid waste are not produced independently of one another, we identify the settings in which it is meaningful to institute a separate policy for mitigating each pollutant, versus those in which only one pollutant needs to be actively addressed. The scenarios considered here represent a range of options that could be available to policy makers, depending on the country's international commitments and the effects on economic and environmental variables.     

Sustainable growth, renewable resources and pollution

Our intention is to present a growth model with an environmental resource which has its own regeneration process. The stock of this resource serves as a source of utility and an input to production. We also intend to introduce a negative externality caused by a pollution flow which we assume to be proportional to production. In the context of this model, it is shown that, by using the utility level of the Green Golden Rule as a generalization of the Ramsey's bliss point for solving an optimal growth problems with a zero discount rate, an optimal path converges to the Green Golden Rule configuration.     

Temporary Equilibrium,Full Equilibrium,and Elasticity of Cost

The result by Morrison (1985) and Morrison and Schwarzt (1994) that there is an one-to-one relationship between the rate of economic capacity utilization and ratio of cost elasticities at the temporary and the full equilibrium has been instrumental in past studies on measuring economic capacity utilization and on adjusting indexes of productivity growth for temporary equilibrium. In this paper, dynamic duality and comparative dynamics are employed to assess the behavior of cost elasticity along an optimal path to the steady state. The analysis suggests that no a priori relationship exists between economic capacity utilization and elasticity of cost. The absence of an a priori relationship between these two economic variables implies that theoretical and empirical results based on past notions about the dynamic behavior of cost elasticity may have to be reconsidered.     

Structural analysis of international trade: Environmental impacts of Norway

Final demand purchases initiate production processes that ultimately lead to environmental impacts. With the increase in international trade, many production processes occur outside of the country of final consumption. Whilst several studies have evaluated the pollution embodied in consumption and trade flows, few studies have investigated the structural linkages between domestic consumption and production in foreign regions. In this article we apply three complementary approaches to study the production network leading from the Norwegian economy to domestic and international environmental impacts: (1) the consumption perspective identifies final demand purchases that produce environmental impacts; (2) the production perspective identifies the production processes generating the pollution for a given demand; and (3) structural path analysis is used to provide the linkages between the global production networks linking consumption and production. We find that the three approaches provide different, but complementary information. For policy to focus on both sustainable consumption and production, all three approaches are required to fully identify environmentally important sectors in an economy.     

中国横向税收竞争如何影响雾霾污染——基于环保支出中介效应的研究

分税制改革以来,省级政府间税收竞争激化带来的环境污染问题正在逐步凸现。在此背景下,首先从理论层面分析了税收竞争、环保支出及雾霾污染的关系,并提出假说;其次建立空间杜宾模型测度了税收竞争对雾霾污染的直接效应、间接效应和总效应,并利用中介效应方法实证检验了税收竞争通过环保支出对雾霾污染的作用路径。研究结果表明,税收竞争显著加剧了本地区雾霾污染,但是其间接效应和总效应并不显著;此外,环保支出是税收竞争影响雾霾污染的一个主要中介变量。     

Testing the Porter hypothesis: the effects of environmental investments on efficiency in Swedish industry

The main objective of this paper is to test the Porter hypothesis by assessing static and dynamic effects of environmental policy on productivity. According to the hypothesis, stringent environmental regulations have dynamic effects on firm performance, and these effects eventually generate profits that offset the adaptation costs. We extend previous analyses by using unique data on environmental protection investments in the Swedish manufacturing industry as a proxy for environmental stringency. These data enable us to separate environmental protection investments into pollution prevention and pollution control. This distinction is crucial since the hypothesis claims that it is investments in prevention that have positive dynamic effects on firm performance. To test the hypothesis, a stochastic production frontier model is estimated where firm inefficiency is a function of investments in environmental protection. In general, we find no support for the Porter hypothesis within the time frame of our study, indicating that environmental regulations lead to efficiency losses. This result is even stronger in the harshly regulated pulp and paper industry.     

Effective pollution control policy for China

China began enforcing a system of pollution levies in 1982. However, senior environmental officials expressed doubt that this system was improving the environment and, in 1996, they began to place greater reliance on mill closure as the penalty for poor environmental performance. Since then, managers have found means of subverting many of the intended mill closures, and this causes us to return to the question of the abatement efficiency and effectiveness of the levies. This paper uses production evidence from 34 papermills in two representative provinces to examine the abatement efficiency and effectiveness of the levies. The paper industry is an important industry for this question because it is the largest polluter of China’s rural environment. We use a distance function to determine individual output-based and revenue-based shadow prices for each mill during the years that the levies were the main environmental incentive. The output-based shadow prices for pollutants display no recognizable trends over time and they are very different for firms in different locations. The revenue-based shadow prices are widely variable between mills and locations as well. These findings indicate that the marginal opportunity costs of abatement were also widely divergent and that there was no trend toward improved abatement efficiency. The way to correct this is to improve the performance of the market—not to reject the market altogether as the more recent reliance on mill closures does. This observation suggests that a system of tradable permits would be an improvement on relatively less successful administrative measures such as forced mill closures.     

Environmental efficiency measurement and the materials balance condition

The materials balance condition is a fundamental adding up condition, which essentially says that: “what goes in must come out”. In this paper we argue that a number of the recently developed methods of incorporating pollution measures into standard productive efficiency models may be inconsistent with this fundamental condition. We propose an alternative method that involves the incorporation of the materials balance concept into the production model in a similar manner to which price information is normally incorporated. This produces a new environmental efficiency measure that can be decomposed into technical and allocative components, in a similar manner to the conventional cost efficiency decomposition. The approach is illustrated with the case of phosphorus emission on Belgian pig-finishing farms, using data envelopment analysis (DEA) methods. Our results indicate that a substantial proportion of nutrient pollution on these farms can be abated in a cost reducing manner.