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Export Liberalisation and Water Pollution: Firm‐Level Evidence From China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This paper investigates the effect of export liberalisation on water pollution emissions. With data on Chinese firm‐level water pollution emissions around China's accession to the World Trade Organization, we identify a negative causal effect of export liberalisation on firm‐level water pollution intensity using the exogenous shock to trade policy uncertainty. Further analyses reveal a specialisation effect that increases water pollution intensity for exporting firms and an enforcement effect that decreases water pollution intensities for all firms in the liberalised industry.

Source: World Economy

DOI: 10.1111/twec.70046

Authors: Xiaoping Chen, Yuchen Shao, Xiaotao Zhao

Institutions: Harbin Institute of Technology, Nanjing University, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Energy, Environment, Economic Growth

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Jilin Office of Philosophy and Social Science, National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences, National Social Science Fund of China