Environmental Benefits from International Trade*
Beatriz Gaitan†
Oliver Schenker‡§
Economics Department
University of Bern
April 19th, 2008
Short abstract: We analyze the impact of international trade with transboundary pollution and
endogenous-environmental policy on welfare and emissions in a general equilibrium model.
Pollution in one industry affects another industry’s output domestically and abroad.
With international trade in final goods emission levels and emission-permit prices are the same
regardless of whether emission rights are tradable or not. Even without internationally tradableemission rights countries account for foreign marginal damages from emissions. In autarchy,
environmental policy does not account for all marginal damages. Still, sometimes a country’s
consumer may be better off in autarchy even if she received all emission-permit revenues under
trade.
Long abstract: We analyze the impact of international trade with transboundary pollution and
endogenous-environmental policy on welfare and emissions in a general equilibrium model.
Pollution in one industry affects the output of another industry domestically and abroad. With
international trade in final goods we first analyze a centralized framework with internationally
tradable-emission permits where environmental policy satisfies Pareto optimality. Second, a
decentralized scenario where countries choose the environmental policy that maximizes domestic
welfare. We compare the trade cases with autarchy.
With international trade in final goods i) emission levels and emission-permit prices of the
decentralized and centralized frameworks are equal and ii) the decentralized formulation takes
into account also foreign marginal damages from emissions. Despite that environmental policy
with international trade accounts for all the marginal damages from emissions, and in autarchy
does not, we find that in some instances under free international trade-even if the entire emissionpermit revenues are passed to a single country's representative consumer-this consumer may be
better off in autarchy than in trade.
Key words: Pollution, International Trade, Autarchy, Optimal environmental policy.
JEL Classification: F10, Q20
* We would like to thank Seraina Buob and Gunter Stephan for their helpful comments.
†Corresponding author: Department of Economics VWI, Schanzeneckstrasse 1, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. Tel: +41 31 631
4508, email: beatriz.gaitan@vwi.unibe.ch
‡
Email: oliver schenker@vwi.unibe.ch
§
The authors gratefully acknowledges the support of the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research on Climate (NCCR
Climate), funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF).
2
1.
Introduction
This paper analyses the impact of international trade with trans-boundary pollution and en-
dogenous environmental policy on welfare and on the level of global emissions. To a large extent
the literature of international trade and endogenous environmental policy focuses on the case when
pollution externalities affect consumers’ utility (see Siebert et al., 1980, Copeland and Taylor 1994,
2004, and Hoel, 2005). However, the effects of international trade on environmental quality and
welfare when pollution externalities affect industrial output have largely been neglected. We focus
on the case where pollution directly influences production, but does not directly affect consumers’
utility. Pollution is emitted by some industries which affects the output of other industries (domestically and abroad). One can think of carbon emissions in the production of steel affecting
the output of agriculture or fisheries, because of more droughts, in the domestic economy and
foreign countries. We investigate the case when the pollution’s origin is irrelevant for the scale of
environmental damage, that is, the effect of pollution on production is the same regardless of its
place of origin. When international trade in final goods is allowed we analyze two scenarios regarding emission policy. First, a centralized framework with internationally-tradable emission permits
where a social planner (we can think of it as the United Nations) chooses the level of emissions
that is consistent with Pareto optimality. Second, a decentralized scenario where each country
chooses the level of emissions that maximizes domestic welfare. Since our objective is to analyze
the impact of international trade on welfare and emissions we compare the trade cases with the
case of autarchy–without international trade neither in goods nor in emission permits and where
each country sets environmental policy as to maximize domestic welfare.
There are three basic findings. First, with international trade in final goods emission levels
and emission-permit prices of the decentralized and centralized frameworks are equal. Thus, in the
decentralized framework prices of emission permits are equal across countries even in the absence
of international trade in permits. That is, in the decentralized framework, as long as there is
international trade in final goods, the individual countries’ environmental policy always takes into
account all marginal damages from emissions. Second, if there is free trade in final goods, and
in addition emission permits’ revenue collection is distributed to consumers as lump-sum transfers
and this distribution occurs in the same manner in the centralized and decentralized formulations,
then each formulation leads to the same competitive equilibrium.
Third, we compare the trade and autarchy scenarios. In some instances under free international
3
trade –even if the entire emissions’ revenue collection is passed to a single country’s representative
consumer– this consumer may be better off in autarchy than in trade. This occurs despite the
fact that environmental policy with international trade accounts for all the marginal damages from
emissions, whereas environmental policy in autarchy does not. This may occur when the production
of a country is largely susceptible to emissions. A low vulnerable country in autarchy will set a
loose environmental policy allowing for a relatively high amount of emissions, thus, boosting the
production of emitting goods. The effects of this policy on the highly vulnerable country will be
to choose a tight environmental policy, thus, boosting sectors that are sensitive to emissions in the
low vulnerable country. If the low vulnerable region now chooses an international trade regime a
tighter environmental policy is set in place. It is possible that the costs of this tighter policy are
sufficiently large so that even if all emission permits revenues are transferred to this country the
region would be better off in autarchy than in trade.
There are several contributions to the literature. First, the paper analyses the effect of international trade when pollution externalities affect industrial output, whereas the literature usually
assumes that externalities affect consumers’ utility. Second, the international trade literature focusing on the effects of pollution on production does not explore the issue of optimal emission
policy (Benarroch and Thille, 2001 and Copeland and Taylor, 1999), as we do. There are two
papers closer to our model. Manne and Stephan (2005) consider international trade models where
climate change affects production. They focus on a cooperative framework with optimal emissions
and show that optimal emissions are independent of emission revenues distribution and compensation1 . Manne and Stephan, however, leave unexplored the welfare and environmental implications
of trade. Copeland and Taylor (1997) develop a small open economy model with local pollution
where environmental capital is negatively affected by emissions over time. However, emission levels
are not optimally set since emission policy in their model ignores the long-run effects of pollution.
Third, we develop a model that accounts for different regional and sectoral effects of pollution
which are well documented by the fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) Work Group II (2007). For example, carbon emissions inducing a small
increase in mean temperature may lead to an increase in agricultural production on higher latitudes,
but since regions near the equator are more prone to droughts pollution may lead to a decrease
of agricultural output in these areas. Besides spatial differences, sectoral vulnerabilities also exist.
1
This work is related to the work of Baumol (1972) who considers the closed economy case.
4
Fisheries, farms and tourism are more sensitive to changes in environmental conditions (IPCC,
2007) whereas heavy industries and many forms of energy production are less dependent on them.
Costs and benefits from pollution are, therefore, not equally distributed across economic sectors
and world regions.
The framework presented is a two-goods two-countries world-economy model. One of the goods
produced is vulnerable to pollution, but does not pollute. The other sector pollutes, but is not
vulnerable to pollution. We can think of agriculture as the affected or vulnerable-non-polluting
sector and the heavy industry as the non-vulnerable-emitting sector. The world economy consists
of two countries, the North and the South. Across countries the vulnerable sector’s production is
differently affected by emissions. Each country is endowed with capital and labor whose endowment
may differ across countries. Pollution affects the vulnerable sector of both countries regardless of the
provenance of emissions. We abstract from within country income distributional effects and assume
that in each country there is a representative consumer who derives satisfaction from consuming
the two final goods produced. Consumers’ preferences are identical across countries and pollution
does not affect consumers’ preferences.
In section two, we present the model with international trade in both final goods and emission
permits, where a social planner chooses the level of emissions that is consistent with Pareto optimality. Section three describes the case with international trade in final goods but not in emission
permits, where each government independently chooses the level of emissions that maximizes domestic welfare. Section four describes the autarchy scenario. Section five compares the welfare and
pollution effects of international trade. Section six concludes.
2.
The model: International trade in goods and permits and centralized emission
policy
We assume a world economy consisting of two countries, the North and the South2 . Two inter-
nationally traded goods are produced, good A and good E. In each country there is a representative
consumer. Consumers across countries have identical preferences, and derive satisfaction from consuming goods A and E. In the South the representative consumer is endowed with K̄ and L̄ units
of capital and labor, respectively. We presume that there is no international capital nor labor mo2
Our qualitative results do not change assuming that the world economy consists of two regions each composed
of more than one country.
5
bility. We use an asterisk to denote the North quantities and prices. Thus, K̄ ∗ and L̄∗ , respectively,
denote the capital and labor endowments in the North. The production of commodity E causes a
pollution discharge which negatively affects the production of good A. Good E could be thought as
electricity from greenhouse-gas-emitting coal burning power stations and good A could be thought
as agriculture which is sensitive to changes in climate and precipitation. Pollution generated in a
country does not only affect domestic production, but also the other country’s production of good
A. Capital and labor are employed in the production of good A and E. The production of good
E employs environmental services in addition. Environmental services, among others, include the
natural degradation of waste and the elimination and long-term storage of carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere through the use of natural carbon sinks. We presume that the demand of environmental
services equals the pollution emitted by sector E in each country. In the absence of environmental
policy environmental services constitute a common pool problem. We concentrate on the case of
optimal environmental policy where a (world wide acting) social planner chooses emission levels
that are consistent with Pareto optimality. For each unit of emissions a permit is issued which
allows firms in sector E to generate one emission unit. Emission permits are sold internationally
and the price of an emission permit is determined by the market. Revenues from emission permits
are passed to representative consumers of the South and North as lump sump transfers.
2.1.
Firms
In the South the output of good A and E are, respectively, denoted as YA and YE . In the
following, subscripts A and E denote good A and good E. Emissions from producing good E in
each country instantaneously negatively affect the output of sector A in both countries.
The emitting sector E use the following production techniques in the South and North, correspondingly,
¡ ε 1−ε ¢β 1−β
LE
s
YE = KE
(1)
and
´β
³
∗ ε
YE∗ = (KE
) (L∗E )1−ε (s∗ )1−β ,
(2)
where 0 ≤ β ≤ 1 and 0 ≤ ε ≤ 1. KE , LE and s denote the capital, labor and environmental services
∗ , L∗ and s∗ are those for the
employed in the production of good E in the South, similarly, KE
E
6
North. We assume that the environmental services employed equal the pollution emitted by sector
E in each country3 . Let d and d∗ denote the amount of emission discharge of sector E, respectively,
in the South and North. Setting the amount of emissions equal to the demand of environmental
services, d = s and d∗ = s∗ ; (1) and (2) can be rewritten as
and
¡ ε 1−ε ¢β 1−β
YE = G (KE , LE , d) = KE
LE
d
´β
³
∗
∗ ε
YE∗ = G (KE
, L∗E , d∗ ) = (KE
) (L∗E )1−ε (d∗ )1−β .
(3)
(4)
The pollution generated in the North and South decreases the output of sector A by means of a
pollution externality. Similar to Benarroch and Thille (2001) we assume the following production
functions
α 1−α
LA
YA = F (KA , LA ; D) = (1 − ηD) KA
(5)
∗
∗ α
, L∗A ; D) = (1 − η ∗ D) (KA
) (L∗A )1−α
YA∗ = F ∗ (KA
(6)
and
where 0 ≤ α ≤ 1. KA and LA denote the capital and labor services employed in the production of
∗ and L∗ , similarly, denote those for the North. Production of good
output YA in the South. KA
A
A is negatively affected by global emissions D ≡ d + d∗ . The regional vulnerability to pollution of
commodity-A’s production are captured by the constants η, η∗ > 0 (in equations (5) and (6)).
While the supply of environmental services is large, these services are not supplied in infinite
amounts to the degree by which environmental degradation takes place. We include a capacity
constraint D̄ on aggregate emission levels as follows
d + d∗ ≤ D̄.
(7)
We also assume that η and η∗ are sufficiently large such that if aggregate emissions equal D̄ the
output of good A in either country equals zero. That is,
3
While there are different approaches relating output and emissions (see for example Dasgupta and Heal 1979
pp.78-91, Copeland and Taylor, 1994), we follow the approach followed by Dasgupta and Mäler (2000) where emissions
equal the demand of environmental services.
7
1
5η
D̄
and
1
5 η∗
D̄
(8)
holds.
Let r, w and τ denote the rental rate of capital, labor wage rate and the price of an emission
permit allowing a firm to generate one unit of pollution, respectively, in the South. Let pA and pE
denote the prices of goods A and E in the South. Taking the externality D and prices as given
sector A in the South maximizes profits (pA F (KA , LA ; D) − rKA − wLA ) and as long as sector A
is open it maximizes profits by setting the value of the marginal physical product of capital and
labor equal to factor prices. The first order condition associated with profit maximization in sector
A are given by
pA
∂F (KA , LA ; D)
∂KA
≤ r, if KA > 0
then
pA
∂F (KA , LA ; D)
= r,
∂KA
pA
∂F (KA , LA ; D)
∂LA
≤ w, if LA > 0
then
pA
∂F (KA , LA ; D)
= w.
∂LA
(9)
(10)
Thus, if sector A in the South is open (9) and (10) will hold with equality.
Similarly, taking prices as given sector E in the South chooses the amount of capital, labor and
emissions that maximize profits (pE G (KE , LE , d) − rKA − wLA − τ d) . The first order conditions
associated with sector E’s optimization problem equal
pE
∂G (KE , LE , d)
∂KE
≤ r,
(11)
pE
∂G (KE , LE , d)
∂LE
≤ w,
(12)
pE
∂G (KE , LE , d)
∂d
≤ τ.
(13)
If sector E in the South is open then (11) − (13) will hold with equality. Let r∗ , w∗ and τ ∗
denote the rental rate of capital, labor wage rate and the price of an emission permit in the North.
Let p∗A and p∗E denote the prices of goods A and E in the North. Sectors A and E in the North
solve a similar optimization problem to that of the South and similar expressions as (9)-(13) also
hold for the North (where all variables have an asterisk superscript).
8
2.2.
Consumers
The preferences of the representative consumer in the South and North are given by
U (cA , cE ) = cγA c1−γ
E ,
(14)
U (c∗A , c∗E ) = (c∗A )γ (c∗E )1−γ
(15)
and
with 0 < γ < 1. cA and cE (c∗A and c∗E ) denote consumption of goods A and E in the South (in the
North), respectively. The representative consumer of the South owns capital K̄ and labor L̄ which
are inelastically supplied to domestic firms at prices r and w. The representative consumer in the
South chooses non-negative values of cA and cE to solve
o
n
¯
¯pA cA + pE cE ≤ wL̄ + rK̄ + T
max cγA c1−γ
E
(16)
where T is a lump-sum transfer from permit-sale revenues .
Similarly, the representative consumer in the North chooses non-negative values of c∗A and c∗E
to solve
o
n
¯
max (c∗A )γ (c∗E )1−γ ¯p∗A c∗A + p∗E c∗E ≤ w∗ L̄∗ + r∗ K̄ ∗ + T ∗
(17)
where T ∗ is also a lump-sum transfer. T and T ∗ are more precisely defined in the next sections.
2.3.
Centralized environmental policy with internationally-tradable permits.
In this section we consider the case where in the presence of international trade in goods a social
planner aims at choosing the global level of emissions that is consistent with Pareto optimality. We
call this setting the centralized scenario. Pareto optimality requires the utility maximization of
any arbitrarily chosen representative consumer subject to the requirement that the other country’s
representative consumer is not worse off, and also subject to the conditions that final goods world
supplies equals world demands (see Baumol (1972) for a similar formulation in the one country
case). In addition, subject to the feasibility conditions that aggregate labor and capital used in
each country equal their per-country supplies, and subject to the constraint that the bound on
global emissions is satisfied.
9
For each unit of emissions the social planner issues an emission permit that allows firms to
emit one unit of pollution. The social planner sells permits at price τ , determined by the market.
Emission permits revenue collection is passed to the representative consumers of the South and
North. More precisely, the social planner solves
max U (cA , cE )
(18)
s.t.
U (c∗A , c∗E ) = g∗
(19)
¡ α 1−α ¢
∗ )α (L∗ )1−α
+ (1 − η∗ D) (KA
cA + c∗A 5 (1 − ηD) KA
LA
A
¢β 1−β ³ ∗ ε ∗ (1−ε) ´β ∗ 1−β
¡
d
+ (KE ) (LE )
(d )
cE + c∗E 5 KEε L1−ε
E
d + d∗ = D,
LA + LE 5 L̄,
KA + KE 5 K̄,
L∗A + L∗E 5 L̄∗
∗ + K ∗ 5 K̄ ∗
KA
E
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
D ≤ D̄,
where g ∗ is a positive constant, (20) and (21) are feasibility constraints in final goods, (22) defines
aggregate emissions, (23) and (24) are labor and capital feasibility constraints and (25) is the
capacity constraint on global emissions.
2.4.
Equilibrium
Definition.- A competitive equilibrium for the centralized scenario with international trade in
emission permits and final goods are quantities
´
³
ˆ Ŷ ∗ , K̂ ∗ , L̂∗ , Ŷ ∗ , K̂ ∗ , L̂∗ , dˆ∗ , D̂
x̂ = ĉA , ĉE , ĉ∗A , ĉ∗E , ŶA , K̂A , L̂A , ŶE , K̂E , L̂E , d,
A
A
A E
E
E
prices, r̂, ŵ, r̂∗ , ŵ∗ , and τ̂ , price ratio
p̂A
p̂E
and transfers T̂ and T̂ ∗ such that
i) Given prices and transfers, (ĉA , ĉE ) and (ĉ∗A , ĉ∗E ) solve the optimization problem of the
respective consumer in the South and North.
10
´
³
∗ , L̂∗ ) solve the profit maximization problem of
ii) Given prices, ŶA , K̂A , L̂A , and (ŶA∗ , K̂A
A
sector A in the South and North, respectively.
ˆ and (Ŷ ∗ , K̂ ∗ , L̂∗ , dˆ∗ ) solve the profit maximization problem
iii) Given prices, (ŶE , K̂E , L̂E , d)
E
E
E
of sector E in the South and North, respectively.
iv) x̂ solves the social planner’s optimization problem (18).
³
´
v) The capacity constraint on global emissions D̂ ≤ D̄ is satisfied.
vi) Market clearing conditions:
- in final goods hold, that is equations (20) and (21) are satisfied.
- in factors of production in each country hold, that is equations (23) and (24) are satisfied
-in emissions (22) holds; and
vii) The social planner collects revenues from emission permits and passes them to consumers
as lump-sum transfers. That is,
T̂ + T̂ ∗ = τ̂ D.
2.5.
(26)
Solution
Since long the economic literature (see Baumol and Bradford, 1972) has shown that non-convex
production possibility sets exist when externalities are present. Similar to Baumol and Bradford
and Benarroch and Thille, we find that in some instances the production possibility set of our
economy is non-convex. The problems associated with this phenomenon, in particular the determination of the optimal allocation of resources is described in more detail in Baumol and Bradford.
They demonstrate that as long as the source of non-convexities is only due to externalities there
exists a Pigouvian tax that can sustain a competitive economy that is technologically efficient.
However, they also point out that “Pigouvian taxes cannot change the shapes of the technological
relationships in the economy, and hence cannot remove the problems of evaluation of efficiency
which non-convexity introduces”. In our model the constraint qualification for using Kuhn-Tucker
conditions for optimality is satisfied4 . Moreover, since the objective function associated with the
social planner’s problem is concave the Kuhn-Tucker conditions associated with problem (18) are
sufficient for a global maximum.
4
The Jacobian matrix of the binding constrait of problem (18) has full rank.
11
We now solve the social planner’s problem (18) by means of Kuhn-Tucker conditions. The
Lagrangian associated with problem (18) is given by
L = U (cA , cE ) + λ (U (c∗A , c∗E ) − g∗ )
(27)
³
´
¡ α 1−α ¢
∗ α
LA
) (L∗A )1−α − cA − c∗A
+ (1 − η∗ D) (KA
+vA (1 − ηD) KA
+vE
µ
¶
¡ ε 1−ε ¢β 1−β ³ ∗ ε ∗ 1−ε ´β ∗ 1−β
KE LE
d
+ (KE ) (LE )
(d )
− cE − c∗E
+π (D − d − d∗ )
¡
¢
¡
¢
+θ K K̄ − KA − KE + θL L̄ − LA − LE
¡
¢
¡
¢
∗
∗
+ θ∗L L̄∗ − L∗A − L∗E
+θ ∗K K̄ ∗ − KA
− KE
where λ, vA , vE , π, θK , θL , θ∗K and θ∗L are Lagrange multipliers. By assumption, η (the parameter
that controls for the vulnerability of sector A to emissions) is sufficiently large such that if D = D̄
then the output of sector A in each country is zero. This ensures that D < D̄. Therefore, we do
not include a multiplier for the constraint D ≤ D̄. Optimality with regard to cA , cE , c∗A , and c∗E
implies
Uc∗ (ĉ∗A , ĉ∗E )
v̂A
UcA (ĉA , ĉE )
= A¡ ∗ ∗ ¢ =
UcE (ĉA , ĉE )
v̂E
Uc∗E ĉA , ĉE
(28)
where Ucj (ĉA , ĉE ) for i = A, E denotes the partial derivative of U (cA , cE ) with respect to cj
d denote the marginal benefits from emissions in the
evaluated at the equilibrium solution. Let MB
d ∗ denote the marginal benefits from emissions in the North. Optimality requires
South and MB
d ≡ v̂E (1 − β)
Ld ≤ 0 ⇒ MB
Ld∗
Ã
ε L̂1−ε
K̂E
E
dˆ
!β
≤ π̂
⎛ ³ ´ε ³ ´1−ε ⎞β
∗
L̂∗E
∗
⎟
⎜ K̂E
d
≤0⇒M
B ≡ v̂E (1 − β) ⎝
⎠ ≤ π̂
∗
ˆ
d
(29)
(30)
d denote the
If dˆ and dˆ are positive then (29) and (30) , respectively, hold with equality. Let MD
marginal damages from emissions
12
µ
³ ´α ³ ´1−α ¶
α 1−α
∗
∗
d
L̂∗A
=M
D
LD ≤ 0 ⇒ π̂ ≤ v̂A ηK̂A L̂A + η K̂A
(31)
d are greater than
Equations (29) − (31) indicate that if the marginal damages from emissions MD
∗
d and M
d
their per-country marginal benefits MB
B then it is optimal to set emissions at the country
level equal to zero. Since emissions must be positive in at least one country else the aggregate output
of good E would equal zero and utility would be minimal, D must be positive and (31) holds with
equality. As it is well known, optimal environmental policy with internationally-tradable permits
must account for all the marginal damages from emissions as indicated in equation (31) .
If production of good E takes place in both countries, then, using (29)-(31) we obtain that
marginal benefits from emissions equal marginal damages from emissions in both countries, that is,
µ
³ ´α ³ ´1−α ¶
α 1−α
∗
∗
d∗
d
L̂∗A
= MB
MB = v̂A η K̂A L̂A + η K̂A
(32)
Since at the country level damages from emissions are equal regardless of their source of origin
marginal benefits from emissions in each country are equalized across countries as indicated in
equation (32). Solving for d from (32) , emissions at the country level are given by
⎛
ˆ∗
d
(33)
⎞1
(34)
β
⎜ v̂E
dˆ = ⎝
v̂A
⎛
⎞1
1−β
⎟
ε (1−ε)
³ ´α ³ ´1−α ⎠ K̂E L̂E
α L̂1−α + η ∗ K̂ ∗
L̂∗A
ηK̂A
A
A
β
⎜ v̂E
= ⎝
v̂A
³ ´ε ³ ´1−ε
1−β
⎟
∗
L̂∗E
³ ´α ³ ´1−α ⎠ K̂E
α L̂1−α + η ∗ K̂ ∗
L̂∗A
ηK̂A
A
A
and aggregate emission equals
⎛
⎜ v̂E
D̂ = ⎝
v̂A
⎞1
β
³
´
1−β
⎟
ε (1−ε)
∗ ε
+ (KE
) (L∗E )1−ε
³ ´α ³ ´1−α ⎠ K̂E L̂E
α L̂1−α + η ∗ K̂ ∗
L̂∗A
η K̂A
A
A
(35)
The allocation of capital and labor across sectors is given by
³
´
α L̂1−α
αv̂A 1 − η D̂ K̂A
A
K̂A
³
´
α L̂1−α
(1 − α) v̂A 1 − η D̂ K̂A
A
L̂A
≤ θK ,
(36)
≤ θL,
(37)
13
³
´β
ε L̂1−ε
βεv̂E K̂E
dˆ1−β
E
≤ θK ,
(38)
³
´β
ε L̂1−ε
β (1 − ε) v̂E K̂E
dˆ1−β
E
≤ θ̂L ,
(39)
K̂E
L̂E
similarly for Northern quantities.
A competitive equilibrium for this economy is found using equations (20)−(25) and (28)−(39) ,
and setting
p̂A
p̂E
=
p̂∗A
p̂∗E
=
v̂A
v̂E ,
r̂ = θK , ŵ = θL , r∗ = θ∗K , w∗ = θ∗L , τ = τ ∗ = π.
Notice that in the absence of transportations costs and barriers to trade, prices of final goods
are equal across countries. Moreover, since emissions permits are internationally traded their price
is also equal across countries.
3.
Decentralized environmental policy without internationally-tradable permits.
In this section we describe a scenario in which each country’s government chooses the domestic
level of emission that maximizes domestic welfare. We called this setting the decentralized scenario. While in the previous section a (world) social planner chooses world-wide environmental
policy, now each country’s government chooses the nation’s environmental policy that maximizes
domestic welfare. While we allow for international trade in final goods, international trade in permits is not possible now. We can think of this scenario as the case where countries do not reach
an agreement on cooperation relating environmental policy, and governmental authorities do not
recognize emission permits from other countries. Still there is international trade in final goods
and domestic environmental policy.
14
More precisely, the government of the South takes emissions from the North as given and solves
max U (cA , cE )
(40)
s.t.
¡ α 1−α ¢
∗ )α (L∗ )1−α
cA + c∗A = (1 − η (d + d∗ )) KA
LA
+ (1 − η ∗ (d + d∗ )) (KA
A
(41)
´β
´β
³
³
ε L(1−ε)
1−β + (K ∗ )ε (L∗ )(1−ε)
d
(d∗ )1−β
cE + c∗E = KE
E
E
E
(42)
LA + LE = L̄,
(43)
KA + KE = K̄,
(44)
D ≤ D̄,
The difference between the decentralized and the centralized scenarios is that under the decentralized scenario the government in the South does not ensure that the presentative consumer
of the North is not worse off and vice versa. However, the government in the South recognizes
that there is international trade in final goods. A similar optimization problem also applies for the
government of the North.
Definition.- A competitive equilibrium for the decentralized solution, without international
trade in emission permits are quantities
x = (cA , cE , YA , KA , LA , YE , KE , LE , d)
¯ ¯ ¯
¯
¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
and,
x∗ = (c∗A , c∗E , Y∗A , K∗A , L∗A , Y∗E , K∗E , L∗E , d∗ )
¯ ¯ ¯
¯ ¯ ¯
¯ ¯ ¯
¯
p
p∗
prices, r, w, τ , r∗ , w∗ , and τ ∗ , price ratios ¯p A and ¯p∗A and transfers T and T∗ such that
¯ ¯
¯
¯
¯ ¯
¯E
¯E
i) Given prices and transfers, (cA ,cE ) and (c∗A , c∗E ) solve the optimization problem of the re¯ ¯
¯ ¯
spective consumer in the South and North.
ii) Given prices, (YA , KA , LA ), and (Y∗A , K∗A , L∗A ) solve the profit maximization problem of
¯
¯ ¯
¯ ¯ ¯
sector A in the South and North, respectively.
iii) Given prices, (YE , KE , LE , d) and (Y∗E , K∗E , L∗E , d∗ ) solve the profit maximization problem
¯ ¯ ¯
¯
¯ ¯ ¯
¯
of sector E in the South and North, respectively.
iv) x solves the optimization problem of the government in the South.
¯
15
v) x∗ solves the optimization problem of the government in the North.
¯
¡
¢
vi) The capacity constraint on global emissions D ≤ D̄ is satisfied.
¯
vii) Market clearing conditions:
- in final goods hold, that is, equations (20) and (21) are satisfied.
- in factors of production in each country hold, that is, equations (23) and (24) are satisfied
and
viii) Transfers equal emission-permits revenue collection
T+T∗ = τ d+τ ∗ d∗
¯
¯
¯ ¯
(45)
Proposition 1. In economies with international trade in final goods the centralized solution
with international-tradable permits and the decentralized solution without internationallytradable permits lead to the same level of emissions and is independent of emission revenues
distribution.
Proof. See appendix¥
Thus, not only in the centralized framework optimal emissions are chosen so that their marginal
benefit equal all marginal damages. This result holds in the decentralized framework as well with
international trade in goods domestic emissions are chosen so that their marginal domestic benefit
equals world marginal damages. The explanation for this result is that pollution affects production
of good A domestically and abroad which directly affects its international supply and price. If
∗ )α (L∗ )1−α were relatively small when
the marginal damages from pollution in the North pA η ∗ (KA
A
¡ α 1−α ¢
and optimal emission only accounted for marginal domestic
compared to the South pA η KA LA
damages then emissions would be set at a relative high level in the North. Thus, the marginal effect
of pollution in the South will be larger than in the North. With this the production of good A in
the South will decline more than that in the North putting additional pressure in the international
price of good A. Thus, even under the decentralized framework, optimal environmental policy must
account for damages caused internationally.
Proposition 2. In the decentralized solution without-internationally tradable permits, if
sector E is open in both countries, emission permit’s prices are equal across countries.
Proof. See proof of proposition 1 in the Appendix¥
16
The reason for this is that the marginal damage of one unit of emissions is equal regardless of
whether emissions originate in the South or North. Since domestic environmental policy accounts
for all marginal damages from emission and the price of an emission permit in each country equals
the value of marginal damages (domestic and foreign) then prices of emission permits must be equal
across countries.
Notice that if the damages from emissions were also dependent on the origin of emissions then
the proposition may not hold true.
Proposition 3. Emission-permits prices in the centralized solution with tradable permits and
the decentralized solution without tradable permits are identical.
Proof. See proof of proposition 1 in the Appendix¥
Proposition 4. In economies with international trade in final goods the centralized solution
³ ´
.
and the decentralized solution lead to the same relative prices of final goods ppA
E
Proof. See proof of proposition 1 in the Appendix¥
Proposition 5. With international trade in final goods, if transfers redistribution takes place
in the same manner under the centralized and the decentralized settings (T̂=T and T̂ ∗ =T∗ ), then
¯
¯
the competitive equilibrium of the centralized and the decentralized formulations are identical.
Proof. Since relative prices of final goods as well as emissions are equal under either setting,
the equilibrium labor wage rates and rental rates of capital are equal in the two scenarios. Thus, if
transfers are distributed in the same manner under the centralized and decentralized settings the
proposition holds.¥
Corollary. If externalities are of the type studied here, where they only directly affect production but do not enter into the consumers’ utility functions and there is international trade in all
final goods the centralized and decentralized solutions (where countries independently and selfishly
choose emission’s policy) are equal. The importance of this result is that as long as there is free
international trade in final goods (international trade in permits is not necessary) and emissions
are set optimally by individual countries, the solution is the same as the one of a centralized emission policy. Thus, no agreement is necessary among countries. That is, a central authority or an
international agreement on environmental policy is not compulsory if there is undistorted trade at
17
least in the pollution affected sector. A further integration of the commodity markets and further
international trade agreements are desirable for mitigating environmental problems.
Regarding factor prices, as long as technologies across countries differ (in particular, η 6= η∗ ) factor price equalization may not occur. However, if specialization does not take place in either country
and technologies across countries are identical (η 6= η ∗ ) then the Heckscher-Ohlin (Heckscher, 1950,
Ohlin, 1933 and Samuelson, 1949) tendency for factor price equalization takes place.
4.
Autarchy
In the autarchy setting the only connection between the two economies is the externality that
sector E causes in the other country’s sector A.
In the absence of international trade in goods and emission permits, the government of the
South sets the domestic consumption of goods A and E equal to domestic production and chooses
NT
NT that maximize domestic welfare as follows,
consumption levels cNT
A , cE and emissions d
NT
max U(cNT
A , cE )
(46)
s.t.
¡
¡
¢¢ ¡ NT ¢α ¡ NT ¢1−α
T
NT ∗
,
KA
LA
cN
A = 1−η d+d
T
cN
E =
³¡
¢ ¡
¢ ´β ¡ NT ¢1−β
N T ε LNT 1−ε
d
KE
E
(47)
(48)
We now use the superscript NT to denote the autarchic prices and quantities. In the case of a
country in the North the superscript NT is followed by an asterisk.
The first order conditions of problem (46) equal
¡
¢
, ĉNT
UcNT cNT
vN T
A
E
A
¡ NT NT ¢ = A
NT
UcNT cA , cE
vE
(49)
E
and
¡ NT ¢α ¡ NT ¢1−α
NT
NT
vA
η KA
= vE
(1 − β)
LA
á
¢ε ¡ NT ¢1−ε !β
LE
KENT
NT
d
(50)
NT , v̂ NT are Lagrange multipliers associated with constraints (47) and (48) , respectively.
where v̂A
E
For the North we have
18
¡
¢
∗ , cNT ∗
UcNT ∗ cNT
vNT ∗
A
E
A
¡ NT ∗ NT ∗ ¢ = A
NT ∗
UcNT ∗ cA , cE
vE
(51)
E
and
¡ NT ∗ ¢α ¡ NT ∗ ¢1−α
NT ∗ ∗
NT ∗
LA
vA
η KA
= vE
(1 − β)
á
¢ ¡
¢ !β
NT ∗ ε LNT ∗ 1−ε
KE
E
dNT ∗
(52)
N T ∗ , and v NT ∗ are Lagrange multipliers similar to the ones specified for the South. In
where vA
E
autarchy all of the first order conditions hold with equality since sector A and E must be open in
both countries.
From the optimization problem of the consumers it follows that
and
NT ∗
vA
NT ∗
vE
=
T ∗ ,cN T ∗
UcN T ∗ (cN
)
A
E
A
T ∗ ,cN T ∗
UcN T ∗ (cN
)
A
E
E
=
T∗
pN
A
.
N
pE T ∗
NT
vA
NT
vE
=
T NT
UcNT (cN
A ,cE )
A
T NT
UcNT (cN
A ,cE )
E
=
pNT
A
pNT
E
Using these two expressions and equations (50) and (52),
optimality in sector E implies
¡ NT ¢α ¡ NT ¢1−α
= p̂NT
LA
p̂NT
A η KA
E (1 − β)
á
¢ ¡
¢ !β
N T ε LNT 1−ε
KE
E
= τ̂ NT
dNT
¡ NT ∗ ¢α ¡ NT ∗ ¢1−α
∗ ∗
∗
LA
p̂NT
= p̂NT
(1 − β)
A η KA
E
á
¢ε ¡ NT ∗ ¢1−ε !β
KENT ∗
LE
= τ̂ NT ∗
NT
d ∗
(53)
(54)
Equation (50) and (52) indicate that in contrast to the international trade scenarios, in autarchy
only domestic marginal damages from emissions are accounted for while foreign marginal damages
are ignored. Damages to sector A in the foreign country are irrelevant for the decision of the
optimizing policy maker because there are no economic relations between the two countries and
higher damages to the affected sector abroad have no influence on the consumption and utility of
the domestic country.
5.
Simplified model on welfare and emission levels under trade and autarchy
To obtain additional insight regarding welfare and emission levels under trade and autarchy we
solve a simplified model analytically by assuming that ε = 1 and α = 0 such that,
YE = KEβ d1−β ,
∗ β
YE∗ = (KE
) (d∗ )1−β
(55)
and
YA = (1 − ηD) LA ,
YA∗ = (1 − η∗ D) (L∗A )
(56)
19
5.1.
Trade equilibrium solution
Using the international market clearing condition of good E the relative price of final goods
p̂E
p̂A
is given by
p̂E
1
=
p̂A
1−β
µ
σ
γ +σ
¶β µ
L̄ + L̄∗
ηL̄ + η ∗ L̄∗
¶β Ã
ηL̄ + η∗ L̄∗
¡
¢β
K̄ + K̄ ∗
!
(57)
where σ = (1 − β) (1 − γ) . Substituting (57) into (33) − (34) pollution levels per country are given
by
dˆ =
µ
p̂E 1 − β
p̂A ηL̄ + η ∗ L̄∗
¶1
K̄ =
ˆ∗
µ
p̂E 1 − β
p̂A ηL̄ + η ∗ L̄∗
¶1
∗
d
=
β
β
µ
K̄ =
σ
γ+σ
µ
¶µ
σ
γ+σ
L̄ + L̄∗
ηL̄ + η ∗ L̄∗
¶µ
¶µ
L̄ + L̄∗
η L̄ + η∗ L̄∗
K̄
K̄ + K̄ ∗
¶µ
¶
K̄ ∗
K̄ + K̄ ∗
¶
(58)
(59)
Aggregate emissions are given by
D̂ =
5.2.
µ
σ
γ+σ
¶µ
L̄ + L̄∗
ηL̄ + η∗ L̄∗
¶
=
µ
σ
γ+σ
¶Ã
L̄
L̄∗
η L̄L̄∗
+1
+ η∗
!
(60)
Autarchy equilibrium solution
Thus, in autarchy optimal emissions are set such that marginal domestic damages from emissions
equal marginal domestic benefits. Solving for dˆNT and dˆNT ∗ from (50) and (52) we obtain
dˆNT =
µ
1 − β p̂NT
E 1
η p̂NT
A L̄
¶ β1
dˆNT ∗ =
K̄,
µ
∗
1
1 − β p̂NT
E
NT
∗
∗
η p̂A L̄∗
¶ β1
K̄ ∗
(61)
Using the market clearing condition of good E in each country we obtain the autarchy-relative
prices
p̂NT
E
p̂NT
A
pNT
E
pNT
A
∗
pNT
E
∗
pNT
A
and
=
T∗
pN
E
T∗ ,
pN
A
σβ
1−β
=
⎛
⎝
σβ
1−β
respectively, for the South and North which are given by,
γ
η
⎛
⎝
+σ
³
1
η
−
1
η∗
γ + 2σ
γ
η∗
+σ
³
1
η∗
−
γ + 2σ
´ ⎞β
⎠
1
η
1 ηL̄
γ β K̄ β
´ ⎞β
⎠
1 η ∗ L̄∗
¡ ¢
γ β K̄ ∗ β
(62)
(63)
20
Substituting (62) and (63) into (61) we obtain the emission levels in autarchy, given by,
⎛
dNT = ⎝
γ
η
+σ
³
1
η
−
γ + 2σ
1
η∗
´⎞
⎛
⎠ σ,
γ
dNT ∗ = ⎝
γ
η∗
+σ
³
1
η∗
−
γ + 2σ
1
η
´⎞
⎠σ
γ
(64)
Since emissions must be positive in the South and North (if a country’s emissions equal zero its
production of good E and consumer’s utility would equal zero) an autarchic equilibrium only exists
³ ∗ ´
³
´
∗
when γ + σ η η−η
> 0 and γ + σ η−η
> 0.
∗
η
While emissions in the South are negatively affected by η they are positively affected by η∗ .
A possible explanation for this behavior is that if the South is largely affected by the pollution
externality (relatively large η) emissions will be set at a relatively low level. The North, knowing
that the South will pollute less, will pollute more to boost sector E’s production. While sector A
in the North will be affected by such increase in emissions this is counterbalanced as the South
pollute less. Total emissions in autarchy therefore equal DNT ≡ dNT + dNT ∗
D
5.3.
NT
σ
=
γ + 2σ
µ
1
1
+
η η∗
¶
(65)
Trade effects on welfare and pollution
In this section we analyze the impact of international trade on welfare and aggregate emissions
by comparing welfare levels and global emissions under trade and autarchy.
Proposition 6 Aggregate emissions under autarchy are always larger than aggregate emissions
with trade.
¢
¡
Proof. the difference between emissions under trade and autarchy Z − Z A is given by
D−D
NT
⎡
⎤
¶ ⎥
µ
¶
µ
⎢
η∗ − η
η − η∗
⎥
⎢ ∗ ∗
∗
= −J ⎢η η γ + σ
L̄ + ηη γ + σ
L̄⎥
∗
⎣
⎦
η
η
{z
}
{z
}
|
|
B
where
J=
µ
σ
γ+σ
¶µ
1
ηη ∗
¶µ
1
γ + 2σ
(66)
R
¶µ
1
ηL̄ + η ∗ L̄∗
¶
>0
Notice that emissions in the South and North under autarchy can be rewritten as
(67)
21
dNT =
⎛
σ ⎝
γη
γ+σ
³
η ∗ −η
η∗
γ + 2σ
´⎞
⎠,
dNT ∗ =
If η∗ − η is negative dNT > 0 requires γ + σ
³
η ∗ −η
η∗
⎛
σ ⎝
γη ∗
´
γ+σ
³
η−η ∗
η
γ + 2σ
´⎞
⎠
> 0. Thus, γ must be grater than σ
(68)
³
η ∗ −η
η∗
´
.
Hence, B is positive and R is trivially positive (η ∗ − η < 0 ⇒ η − η ∗ > 0). If, however, η∗ − η is
´
³
∗
positive then B is positive, and dNT ∗ > 0 requires γ + σ η−η
> 0, thus R is positive. Therefore,
η
D − DNT is always negative¥
The reason for this is that with international trade all the marginal damages from emissions are
considered while in the autarchic case only domestic marginal damages are taken into consideration
when choosing the optimal level of emissions.
5.4.
Welfare
We now investigate whether or not trade leads to larger welfare gains when compared to
autarchy. Considering that emission-permits revenues are transferred in their entirety (τ D) to
a single country’s representative consumer, we investigate whether such transfers are sufficient to
make this consumer always better off in trade than in autarchy. First we look at the case of international trade. Without loss of generality we assume the North to receive all revenues from emissions
(T ∗ = τ D) as a lump-sum transfer. The income of the North with trade equals
r∗ K̄ ∗ + w∗ L̄∗ + T ∗ = r∗ K̄ ∗ + w∗ L̄∗ + τ D
(69)
whereas the income of the representative consumer of the South is given by
rK̄ + wL̄ + T = rK̄ + wL̄ + 0.
(70)
In autarchy, we assume that each government passes the revenues from collected emission permits to its representative consumer as a lump-sum transfer. That is, the representative consumer
of the South receives T NT = τ N T dNT while the representative consumer of the North receives
T NT ∗ = τ NT ∗ dNT ∗ .
Let L̄W = L̄ + L̄∗ and K̄ W = K̄ + K̄ ∗ and H = ηL̄ + η∗ L̄∗ one can verify that welfare in the
South under trade equals
V ≡
ĉγA ĉ1−γ
E
µ
∙
¸¶
σL̄W
ηL̄
β
K̄
= Q L̄ +
−
γ + σ 1 − β K̄ W
H
(71)
22
while in the North welfare equals
∗
V ≡
∗1−γ
ĉ∗γ
A ĉE
∙
¸¶
µ
σ L̄W K̄ ∗ + (1 − β) K̄ η∗ L̄∗
∗
= Q L̄ +
−
γ+σ
H
(1 − β) K̄ W
γ
β(1−γ)
(72)
where
Q = γ (γ + σ)
µ
K̄ W
L̄W
¶β(1−γ) ³
σ ´σ
.
H
(73)
In autarchy, welfare in the South is given by
V
NT
¡
¢γ ¡ NT ¢1−γ
≡ cNT
=
cE
A
µ
σ
γη
¶σ
(γ + 2σ)1−β(1−γ)
µ
σ
γη∗
¶σ
K̄ β(1−γ) L̄γ
µ
γη ∗ + σ (η ∗ − η)
η∗
¶1−β(1−γ)
(74)
and for the North
V
NT ∗
¡ T ¢γ ¡ ∗NT ¢1−γ
cE
≡ c∗N
=
A
K̄ ∗β(1−γ) L̄∗γ
(γ + 2σ)1−β(1−γ)
µ
γη + σ (η − η ∗ )
η
¶1−β(1−γ)
(75)
Proposition 7. If
i) an autarchic equilibrium exists;
ii) K̄ = K̄ ∗ and L̄ = L̄∗ ; and
iii) if with international trade emission-permit revenues (τ D) are–in their entirety–passed to
the representative consumer of the North;
then for sufficiently large η and β the North is better off in autarchy than in trade.
Proof. Let K̄ = K̄ ∗ and L̄ = L̄∗ . For K̄ = K̄ ∗ and L̄ = L̄∗ with international trade welfare
in the North is given by
V∗ =
σσ K̄ ∗β(1−γ) L̄∗γ γ γ (2ση + η + η∗ )
σ+1
(γ + σ)1−β(1−γ) (η + η ∗ )
(76)
and in autarchy welfare in the North equals
V NT ∗ =
σ σ K̄ ∗β(1−γ) L̄∗γ
γ σ η∗σ (γ + 2σ)1−β(1−γ)
µ
γη + σ (η − η∗ )
η
¶1−β(1−γ)
(77)
Since η < η ∗ γ+σ
σ must hold for an autarchic equilibrium to exist we now make η as large as it can
be by taking the limit of V ∗ − V NT ∗ as η approaches
γ+σ ∗
σ η
23
¡ ∗
¢
σσ K̄ ∗β(1−γ) L̄∗γ γ γ
V − V NT ∗ =
Z
η→ γ+σ
η∗
η ∗σ (γ + σ)1−β(1−γ)
σ
lim
(78)
where
Z = σσ
(2σ (γ + σ) + (γ + 2σ))
− 1 with σ = (1 − β) (1 − γ)
(γ + 2σ)σ+1
(79)
All that remains is to verify if for admissible values of beta and gamma Z is negative. For example
β = .9 and γ = .3 would do so¥
In figure 1 we have plotted Z for values of γ and β between zero and one (grey plane), and have
also plotted the “zero”plane to more easily identify if Z is negative. Clearly, many values of β and
γ make Z negative.
Figure 1. Values of Z for possible values of (1 − β) and γ
0.06
Z>0
0.04
zero plane
Z
0.02
0
-0.02
-0.04
-0.06
-0.08
0
Z<0
0.2
1
0.4
1−β
0.8
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.8
1
0.2
0
γ
24
Figure 2. Values of (1 − β) and γ for which the North is better off in autarchy
1
0.9
0.8
Values for 1-beta and
gamma for which
NT*
V*<V
0.7
0.6
γ
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1−β
The shaded area in figure 2 exhibits the values of (1 − β) and γ for which welfare in the North is
larger in autarchy than in trade (Z < 0). Notice that for sufficiently large γ the North is always
better off in autarchy than in trade.
Notice that autarchy may be better than trade even when full compensation from emissions
damages takes place. The explanation for this is that if the South’s vulnerable sector is largely
susceptible to emissions with an international trade regime a tight environmental policy is set in
place. The North in autarchy will set a loose environmental policy allowing for a relatively high
amount of emissions, thus, boosting the production of the emitting good. The effects of this policy
on the South, with a highly vulnerable sector, will be to choose a tight environmental policy, thus
boosting the vulnerable sector’s production in the North. The benefit of this feedback is larger the
larger γ (the share of good A in the consumption expenditure) is as indicated in figure 2. It is
possible that the costs of a tight policy with trade are sufficiently large so that even if all emission
permits revenues are transferred to the North this country would be better off in autarchy than in
trade.
We have also performed numerical simulations for the settings presented in sections two, three
and four where capital and labor are employed in the production of goods A and E. We find that
of our results still hold.
25
By no means we want to indicate that autarchy is desirable. The proposition indicates that if
only emission-permits’ revenues are used as transfers then for one country autarchy may be better
than trade. As in standard trade theory there should be a sufficiently large transfer that leaves
everyone better off as the result of trade. That gives room for other policy instruments to be
used that could enable making larger transfers across countries, we however leave that for future
research.
6.
Conclusion
We analyze the impact of international trade with trans-boundary pollution and endogenous
environmental policy on welfare and on the level of global emissions. We specially analyze the
scenario where pollution externalities affect industrial output which has largely been neglected in
the literature. Our analysis focuses on the case when pollution is emitted by some industries which
affects the output of domestic and foreign industries.
When international trade in final goods is allowed we analyze two scenarios regarding emission
policy; first, a centralized framework with internationally-tradable emission permits where a social
planner chooses the level of emissions; second, a decentralized scenario where each country chooses
the level of emissions that maximizes domestic welfare. We compare the trade cases with each
other and with the case of autarchy–where there is no international trade neither in goods nor
in emission permits and where each country sets environmental policy as to maximize domestic
welfare.
We find that with international trade in final goods emission levels and emission-permit prices
of the decentralized and centralized frameworks are equal. In the decentralized framework, as long
as there is international trade in final goods, the individual countries’ environmental policy always
takes into account all marginal damages from emissions. Thus, in the decentralized framework
prices of emission permits are equal across countries even in the absence of international trade in
permits.
The importance of this result is that i) as long as pollution only affects production; ii) there
is free international trade in final goods (international trade in permits is not necessary) and; iii)
emissions are set optimally by individual countries then no agreement on environmental policy is
necessary among countries. That is, an international agreement on environmental policy is not
compulsory if there is undistorted trade at least in the pollution affected sectors. Thus, further
26
integration of the commodity markets and further international trade agreements are desirable for
mitigating environmental problems.
While one of the most vulnerable sectors to environmental problems is the agricultural sector
this sector is also one of the least integrated sectors into world markets. According to our analysis
if countries independently choose their environmental policy international trade in goods suffices
such that all marginal damages from emissions are accounted for. This result also indicates that
opening the borders for agricultural goods and other vulnerable goods can alleviate environmental
problems.
We then compare the trade and autarchy scenarios. In some instances a representative consumer
may be better off in autarchy than in trade–even if under trade he or she receives as a lump-sum
transfer the entire emission-permit revenues. This occurs despite the fact that environmental
policy with international trade accounts for all the marginal damages from emissions, whereas
environmental policy in autarchy does not. This may occur when one country’s vulnerable sector is
largely susceptible to emissions. A country in autarchy and with a sector relatively less vulnerable
to emissions will set a loose environmental policy allowing for a relatively high amount of emissions,
thus, boosting the production of the emitting good. The effects of this policy on the country with the
highly vulnerable sector will be to choose a tight environmental policy, thus boosting the sectors
sensitive to emissions in the country with low vulnerability. If the country with low vulnerable
sectors now chooses an international trade regime a tighter environmental policy is set in place.
It is possible that the costs of this tighter policy are sufficiently large so that even if all emission
permits revenues–that by large compensate for emission damages–are transferred to this country,
this economy would be better off in autarchy than in trade.
By no means we want to indicate that autarchy is desirable. Our proposition indicates that if
only emission-permits’ revenues are used as transfers then for one country autarchy may be better
than trade. As in standard trade theory there should be a sufficiently large transfer that leaves
everyone better off as the result of trade. This gives room for other policy instruments to be used
that could enable making larger transfers across countries. We, however, leave that for future
research.
Appendix
27
Proof of proposition 1. The Lagrangian associated with problem (40) equals
L = U (cA , cE )
(80)
³
´
¡ α 1−α ¢
∗ α
+ (1 − η∗ (d + d∗ )) (KA
+φA (1 − η (d + d∗ )) KA
LA
) (L∗A )1−α − cA − c∗A
µ
¶
¡ ε 1−ε ¢β 1−β ³ ∗ ε ∗ 1−ε ´β ∗ 1−β
∗
d
+ (KE ) (LE )
(d )
− cE − cE
+φE KE LE
(81)
¡
¢
¡
¢
+δ K K̄ − KA − KE + δ L L̄ − LA − LE
where φA , φE , δ K and δ L are Lagrange multipliers.
An optimal solution associated with problem (40) must satisfy
φ
UcA (cA ,cE )
¯ ¯
= A
UcE (cA ,cE )
φE
¯ ¯
(82)
Let MB denote the marginal benefits from emissions in the South
¡ ε 1−ε ¢β 1−β
³ ¡
´
¢
K L
d
∗
∗ α
∗ 1−α
¯
≤ φA η KαA L1−α
+
η
(83)
(K
)
(L
)
MB = φE (1 − β) ¯ E¯ E
¯ ¯A
¯ A ¯A
d
¯
if d> 0 then (83) holds with equality. Notice that even if each government independently and
¯
selfishly chooses the optimal-domestic level of emissions, international trade in final goods ensures
that all–domestic and foreign–marginal damages from domestic emissions equal their marginal
benefits. Thus, the decentralized environmental policy is consistent with the centralized environmental policy. The first order conditions associated with capital and labor use in the production
of goods A and E equal
αφA (1 − η (d + d∗ )) KαA L1−α
¯ ¯ ¯ ¯A
K
¯A
≤ δK ,
(84)
(1 − α) φA (1 − η (d + d∗ )) KαA L1−α
¯ ¯ ¯ ¯A
LA
¯
≤ δL,
(85)
¡
¢β 1−β
d
βεφE KεE L1−ε
¯ ¯E
¯
K
¯E
¡
¢β 1−β
β (1 − ε) φE KεE L1−ε
d
E
¯
¯ ¯
L
¯E
≤ δK ,
(86)
≤ δL.
(87)
28
If production of commodities A and E occurs then (84) − (85) and (86) − (87), respectively,
hold with equality, and emissions are given by
d=
¯
Ã
φE
φA
!1 Ã
β
1−β
¡ α 1−α ¢
η KA LA
+ η ∗ (K∗A )α (L∗A )1−α
¯ ¯
¯
¯
The competitive solution for the South is found by setting
φA
φE
=
!1
β
¡ ε 1−ε ¢
K L
¯ E¯ E
pA
pE ,
δ K =r, δ L =w. If sector E in
¯
¯
the South is open then sectoral optimality requires that the value of the marginal physical product
from emissions equals the price of an emission permit
¡ ε 1−ε ¢β 1−β
K L
d
¯
=τ
pE (1 − β) ¯ E¯ E
d
¯
¯
Equations (83) and (88) imply
(88)
¡ ε 1−ε ¢β
³ ¡
´
¢
K L
∗
∗ α
∗ 1−α
= pA η KαA L1−α
(K
)
(L
)
+
η
τ = pE (1 − β) ¯ E¯ βE
¯ ¯A
¯ A ¯A
d
¯
Similarly for a country in the North we have
(89)
L = U (c∗ A , c∗E )
(90)
³
´
¡ α 1−α ¢
∗ α
LA
) (L∗A )1−α − cA − c∗A
+ (1 − η∗ (d + d∗ )) (KA
+φ∗A (1 − η (d + d∗ )) KA
+φ∗E
µ
¶
¡ ε 1−ε ¢β 1−β ³ ∗ ε ∗ 1−ε ´β ∗ 1−β
∗
KE LE
d
+ (KE ) (LE )
(d )
− cE − cE
(91)
¡
¢
¡
¢
∗
− KE∗ + δ∗L L̄∗ − L∗A − L∗E
+δ ∗K K̄ ∗ − KA
where φ∗A , φ∗E , δ ∗K and δ ∗L are Lagrange multipliers. Optimality with regard to c∗A and c∗E implies
¯
¯
Uc∗ (c ∗A ,c ∗E )
φ∗A
∗ implies
A ¯ ¯
and
with
regard
to
d
=
∗
φE
Uc∗ (c∗A ,c∗E )
¯
E ¯ ¯
¡ ∗ε ∗1−ε ¢β
³ ¡
´
¢
K LE
∗
∗ α
∗ 1−α
(1 − β) ¯ E ¯ ∗β
≤ φ∗A η KαA L1−α
(K
)
(L
)
+
η
if d∗ > 0 then equal (92)
A
A
A
¯
¯
¯
¯
¯
d
¯
To avoid redundancy we omit writing the remaining first order condition of the government of the
φ∗E
North but similar expressions as (84) − (87) hold.
The competitive solution for the North is also found by setting
production of commodity E takes place then we get
φ∗A
φ∗E
=
p∗A
p∗E ,
δ ∗K = r∗ , δ ∗L = w∗ . If
29
¡ ∗ε ∗1−ε ¢β
³ ¡
´
¢
K L
∗
∗ α
∗ 1−α
¯∗βE ¯ E
+
η
(93)
τ =
= pA η KαA L1−α
(K
)
(L
)
A
A
¯ ¯A
¯
¯
d
¯
Notice that as long as there is free international trade in final goods, and transportation costs
∗
(1 − β)
p∗E
and trade barriers are absent final goods are traded at equal prices across countries, thus
p∗A
p∗E
=
pA
pE .
It follows from equations (89) and (93) that if good E is produced in both countries the price of
emission permits is equal across countries.
Notice that all of the first order conditions of the centralized and decentralized scenarios are
equal and all market clearing conditions regarding final goods and factors of production must hold
in either equilibrium, that is equations (20), (21), (23) and (24) must hold. It must be the case
that equilibrium prices, emissions and labor and capital allocations are equal under the centralized
and decentralized frameworks.
We now sketch the procedure to find an equilibrium solution when specialization does not occur.
The first order conditions associated with sectoral optimization are given by
KA = α
pA
YA
r
LA = (1 − α)
∗
KA
= α
KE = βε
pA
YA
w
pA ∗
Y
r∗ A
L∗A = (1 − α)
pE
YE
w
LE = β (1 − ε)
∗
KE
= βε
pA ∗
Y
w∗ A
pE
YE
r
pE ∗
Y
r∗ E
L∗E = β (1 − ε)
pE ∗
Y
w∗ E
(94)
(95)
(96)
(97)
The market clearing conditions for capital and labor services then equal
KA + KE = α
pA
pE
YA + εβ YE = K̄
r
r
LA + LE = (1 − α)
∗
∗
KA
+ KE
= α
pA
pE
YA + (1 − ε) β YE = L̄
w
w
pA ∗
pE
YA + εβ ∗ YE∗ = K̄ ∗
∗
r
r
L∗A + L∗E = (1 − α)
p∗A
pE
YA + (1 − ε) β ∗ YE∗ = L̄∗
w∗
w
(98)
(99)
(100)
(101)
Solving equations (98) and (99) simultaneously we can solve for YA and YE in terms of pA , r, and
w and the capital and labor endowments of the South. Similarly, (100) and (101) can be used to
solve for YA∗ and YE∗ in terms of pA , r∗ and w∗ and the capital and labor endowments of the North.
30
More precisely,
YA =
εwL̄ − (1 − ε) rK̄
(ε − α) pA
YE =
αwL̄ − (1 − α) rK̄
(α − ε) βpE
(102)
YA∗ =
εw∗ L̄∗ − (1 − ε) r∗ K̄ ∗
(ε − α) pA
YE∗ =
αw∗ L̄∗ − (1 − α) r∗ K̄ ∗
(α − ε) βpE
(103)
Substituting (102) and (103) into (94)−(97) we can then express factor allocation in terms of factor
prices as follows
KA =
µ
α
ε−α
¶
εwL̄ − (1 − ε) rK̄
,
r
¶
1 − α εwL̄ − (1 − ε) rK̄
,
ε−α
w
µ
¶ ∗ ∗
α
εw L̄ − (1 − ε) r∗ K̄ ∗
∗
KA =
,
ε−α
r∗
¶
µ
1 − α εw∗ L̄∗ − (1 − ε) r∗ K̄ ∗
∗
,
LA =
ε−α
w∗
LA =
µ
µ
¶
ε
αwL̄ − (1 − α) rK̄
KE =
(104)
α−ε
r
¶
µ
1 − ε αwL̄ − (1 − α) rK̄
LE =
(105)
α−ε
w
µ
¶
ε
αw∗ L̄∗ − (1 − α) r∗ K̄ ∗
∗
KE =
(106)
α−ε
r∗
¶
µ
1 − ε αw∗ L̄∗ − (1 − α) r∗ K̄ ∗
∗
LE =
(107)
α−ε
w∗
Using (31) τ can be solve in terms of pA , r, w, r∗ , w∗ , capital and labor endowments as follows
³ ¡
´
¢
α 1−α
∗ α
= pA η KA
LA
) (L∗A )1−α
+ η∗ (KA
τ
αα (1 − α)1−α pA
(ε − α)
=
à ¡
¢
¡
¢!
η εwL̄ − (1 − ε) rK̄
η ∗ εw∗ L̄∗ − (1 − ε) r∗ K̄ ∗
+
rα w1−α
r∗α w∗1−α
(108)
Using (29) d can be solved in terms of pE , r, w and factor endowments such that
d =
µ
pE (1 − β)
τ
¶1
ε 1−ε
K̂E
L̂E
=
µ
(1 − β) pE
τ
¶1
εε (1 − ε)1−ε αwL̄ − (1 − α) rK̄
rε w1−ε
(α − ε)
β
β
(109)
where τ can be substituted out using (108) . Similarly d∗ can be solved in terms of pE , r∗ , w∗ and
factor endowments as follows
∗
d =
µ
(1 − β) pE
τ
¶1
β
εε (1 − ε)1−ε αw∗ L̄∗ − (1 − α) r∗ K̄ ∗
r∗ε w∗1−ε
(α − ε)
where τ can be substituted out using (108) .
(110)
31
Zero profits in sectors A and E in the South and North are given by
pA =
pE =
rα w1−α
,
αα (1 − α)1−α (1 − ηD)
pA =
rβε wβ(1−ε) τ 1−β
,
β β εβε (1 − ε)β(1−ε) (1 − β)1−β
pE =
r∗α w∗1−α
αα (1 − α)1−α (1 − η∗ D)
r∗βε w∗β(1−ε) τ 1−β
β β εβε (1 − ε)β(1−ε) (1 − β)1−β
(111)
(112)
Substituting (108) − (110), these four equations implicitly define r, w, r∗ and w∗ in terms of
pA , pE and factor endowments
Lets assume the distribution of revenues in the North and South in the centralized scenario to
be equal to (T , T ∗ ) . Solving the optimization problems of consumers in the South and North the
world demand of good A equals
cA + cA =
=
´ ³
´´
γ ³³
wL̄ + rK̄ + T̂ + w∗ L̄∗ + r∗ K̄ ∗ + T̂ ∗
pA
(113)
γ
(pA (YA + YA∗ ) + p̂E (YE + YE∗ ))
pA
Notice that T + T ∗ = τ (d + d∗ ). Market clearing in good A (cA + cA = YA + YA∗ ) implies
or
pE
pA
γ
(pA (YA + YA∗ ) + p̂E (YE + YE∗ )) = YA + YA∗
(114)
pA
´
³
. We can also solve in the same manner for the decentralized
(YE + YE∗ ) = (YA + YA∗ ) 1−γ
γ
scenario.
Notice that the price ratios
p̂E p E
p̂A , ¯pA
¯
that solve for the centralized and decentralized frameworks
must be the same. This concludes our proof¥
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