nep-res New Economics Papers
on Resource Economics
Issue of 2015‒04‒19
five papers chosen by



  1. Exporters and the Environment By J. Scott Holladay
  2. A Survey of the Literature on Environmental Innovation Based on Main Path Analysis By Nicolò Barbieri; Claudia Ghisetti; Marianna Gilli; Giovanni Marin; Francesco Nicolli
  3. Track-and-Trade: A liability approach to climate policy By Etienne Billette de Villemeur; Justin Leroux
  4. Productivity Effects of Air Pollution: Evidence from Professional Soccer By Lichter, Andreas; Pestel, Nico; Sommer, Eric
  5. Vog: Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Health Costs of Particulates and SO2 By Timothy Halliday; John Lynham; Áureo de Paula

  1. By: J. Scott Holladay (Department of Economics, University of Tennessee)
    Abstract: This paper documents a relationship between international trade and environmental performance at the plant level. Using a panel of establishment-level data from 1990-2006, I estimate the relationship be- tween export orientation, import competition and pollution emissions. I find a robust relationship between international trade and pollution levels. Exporters emit 9-13% less after controlling for output, but their is significant heterogeneity across industries. Import competition is associated with the exit of the smallest, most pollution intensive plants. There is no evidence that this result is caused by polluting firms relocating to countries with low levels of environmental regulation and importing back into the U.S.
    JEL: F1 Q5
    Date: 2015–02
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ten:wpaper:2015-03&r=res
  2. By: Nicolò Barbieri (Deptartment of Economics. University of Bologna, Italy.); Claudia Ghisetti (Deptartment of Economics and Management. University of Ferrara, Italy.); Marianna Gilli (Deptartment of Economics and Management. University of Ferrara, Italy.); Giovanni Marin (IRCrES-CNR, Italy; OFCE-SciencesPo, France.); Francesco Nicolli (IRCrES-CNR, Italy; Department of Economics and Management, University of Ferrara, Italy.)
    Abstract: This paper reviews the literature on environmental innovation (EI) and systematizes it by means of an original methodology identifying the main directions in which the literature on EI has developed over time. In order to do so, two algorithms are adopted and used to analyze a citation network of journal articles and books. The main path analysis reveals that this literature revolves around the following topics: i) determinants of EI; ii) economic effects of EI; iii) environmental effects of EI; and iv) policy inducement in EI. Each of these topics is discussed and implications from the main findings as well as possible future research extensions are outlined.
    Keywords: Environmental Innovations; Green Technologies; Citation Network Analysis; Main Path Analysis
    JEL: O32 Q55
    Date: 2015–04
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:srt:wpaper:0715&r=res
  3. By: Etienne Billette de Villemeur; Justin Leroux
    Abstract: We observe that a Pigovian climate policy need not exact full payment of the social cost of carbon upon emission to yield optimal incentives. Following this insight, we propose the creation of a carbon liabilities market to address climate change. Each period, countries would be made liable for their share of responsibility in current climate damage. This yields first-best emissions patterns. Because liabilities could be traded like financial debt, it also decentralizes the choice a discount rate as well as beliefs about the severity of the climate problem. From an informational standpoint, implementation relies only on realized damage and on the well-documented emission history of countries, unlike a carbon tax or tradable permits scheme, which are based on a sum of discounted expected future marginal damage.
    Keywords: Carbon liabilities, climate policy, market instruments, Pigovian tax,
    JEL: Q54 H23
    Date: 2015–04–15
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cir:cirwor:2015s-18&r=res
  4. By: Lichter, Andreas (IZA); Pestel, Nico (IZA); Sommer, Eric (IZA)
    Abstract: In this paper, we estimate the causal effect of ambient air pollution on individuals' productivity by using panel data on the universe of professional soccer players in Germany over the period 1999-2011. Combining this data with hourly information on the concentration of particulate matter in spatial proximity to each stadium at the time of kickoff, we exploit exogenous variation in the players' exposure to air pollution due to match scheduling rules that are beyond the control of teams and players. Our analysis shows negative and non-linear effects of air pollution on short-run productivity. We further find that the effect increases with age and is stronger in case players face an additional physical burden.
    Keywords: air pollution, productivity, soccer, sports data, Germany
    JEL: J24 Q51 Q53
    Date: 2015–04
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8964&r=res
  5. By: Timothy Halliday (UH-Manoa Department of Economics, University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, and IZA); John Lynham (UH-Manoa Department of Economics and University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization); Áureo de Paula (UCL, São Paulo School of Economics, IFS, CeMMAP)
    Abstract: Kilauea volcano is the largest stationary source of SO2 pollution in the United States of America. Moreover, the SO2 that the volcano emits eventually forms particulate matter, another major pollutant. We use this exogenous source of pollution variation to estimate the impact of particulate matter and SO2 on emergency room admissions and costs in the state of Hawai‘i. Importantly, our data on costs is more accurate than the measures used in much of the literature. We find strong evidence that particulate pollution increases pulmonary-related hospitalization. Specifically, a one standard deviation increase in particulate pollution leads to a 2-3% increase in expenditures on emergency room visits for pulmonary-related outcomes. However, we do not find strong effects for pure SO2 pollution or for cardiovascular outcomes. We also find no effect of volcanic pollution on fractures, our placebo outcome. Finally, the effects of particulate pollution on pulmonary-related admissions are most concentrated among the very young. Our estimates suggest that, since the large increase in emissions that began in 2008, the volcano has increased healthcare costs in Hawai‘i by approximately $6,277,204.
    Keywords: Pollution, Health, Volcano, Particulates, SO2
    JEL: H51 I12 Q51 Q53
    Date: 2015–04
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hae:wpaper:2015-2&r=res

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