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Is Environmental Tax Harmonization Desirable in Global Value Chains?

Author

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  • Cheng Haitao

    (Graduate School of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, 2-1 Naka, Kunitachi, 186-8601, Tokyo, Japan)

  • Kato Hayato

    (Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University, 1-7 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, 560-0043, Osaka, Japan)

  • Obashi Ayako

    (School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Aoyama Gakuin University, 4-4-25 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, 150-8366, Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract

The spatial unbundling of parts production and assembly currently characterizes globalization, leading to the worldwide dispersion of pollution. We consider socially optimal (cooperative) environmental taxes in a two-country model of global value chains in which the location of both parts and assembly can differ. When unbundling costs are so high that parts and assembly must colocate in the pre-globalized world, pollution is spatially concentrated, and harmonizing environmental taxes maximizes global welfare. In contrast, with low unbundling costs triggering the dispersion of parts and thus pollution throughout the world as today, harmonization fails to maximize global welfare. Similar results hold when the two countries non-cooperatively choose their environmental taxes.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng Haitao & Kato Hayato & Obashi Ayako, 2021. "Is Environmental Tax Harmonization Desirable in Global Value Chains?," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 21(1), pages 379-416, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:21:y:2021:i:1:p:379-416:n:10
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2019-0346
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    Cited by:

    1. Saussay, Aurélien & Zugravu-Soilita, Natalia, 2023. "International production chains and the pollution offshoring hypothesis: An empirical investigation," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    2. Cheng, Haitao, 2021. "Trade, Consumption Pollution and Tax," Discussion paper series HIAS-E-106, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University.
    3. Cheng, Haitao, 2021. "Border carbon adjustments with endogenous assembly locations," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    4. Haitao Cheng, 2023. "Consumption pollution and taxes with endogenous firm locations and different market sizes," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(6), pages 1601-1632, December.
    5. Delgado, Francisco J. & Freire-González, Jaume & Presno, Maria J., 2022. "Environmental taxation in the European Union: Are there common trends?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 670-682.
    6. Manta, Alina Georgiana & Doran, Nicoleta Mihaela & Bădîrcea, Roxana Maria & Badareu, Gabriela & Țăran, Alexandra Mădălina, 2023. "Does the implementation of a Pigouvian tax be considered an effective approach to address climate change mitigation?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1719-1731.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    environmental policy; fragmentation; emission tax competition; international coordination; trade in parts and components;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • 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
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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