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Induced innovation and international environmental agreements: evidence from the Ozone regime

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  • Dugoua, Eugenie

Abstract

Global environmental problems are some of the most pressing issues that humanity is facing. There are few examples of success at resolving them; the fight to protect the ozone layer is one of them. This paper provides evidence that the Montreal Protocol’s restrictions on chlorofluorocarbons ( CFCs) triggered a substantial increase in research and innovation on alternatives to ozone-depleting molecules. I compare CFC substitute molecules to molecules that have similar uses but are unrelated to ozone depletion. After the signing of the agreement, patents on CFC substitutes increased by 400% and scientific articles by 500% compared to the control group. These findings suggest that agreements can indeed trigger the development of technological solutions, thereby improving the benefit-cost equation of environmental protection

Suggested Citation

  • Dugoua, Eugenie, 2021. "Induced innovation and international environmental agreements: evidence from the Ozone regime," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 110859, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:110859
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    Cited by:

    1. Aghion, Philippe & Boneva, Lena & Breckenfelder, Johannes & Laeven, Luc & Olovsson, Conny & Popov, Alexander & Rancoita, Elena, 2022. "Financial Markets and Green Innovation," Working Paper Series 2686, European Central Bank.
    2. von Schickfus, Marie-Theres & Garnitz, Johanna & Rathje, Ann-Christin & Wohlrabe, Klaus, 2021. "Herausforderung Klimaschutz: Jahresmonitor der Stiftung Familienunternehmen," Studien, Stiftung Familienunternehmen / Foundation for Family Businesses, number 250023, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    induced innovation; environmental agreements; difference-in-differences; synthetic control; topic modeling;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations

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