Environmental and Trade Policies for Oligopolistic Industry in the Presence of Consumption Externalities

Abstract

We explore the effects of environmental and trade policies with negative consumption externalities when a domestic firm and a foreign rival produce imperfect substitutes and compete in the domestic market. Consumption of the foreign product generates more emissions than that of the domestic product. Emission taxes reduce emissions, harm the foreign firm, but may benefit the domestic firm. Tariffs could mitigate externalities more "effectively" than emission taxes. Consumption subsidies provided to the domestic product may raise emissions and worsen domestic welfare. Stringent environmental policies may induce the foreign firm to produce an environmentally friendly good, though environmental damages may increase.