This paper looks into the effects the international trade has on the environment.
Trade and environment is one of the most debated topics in management and economics studies over the years because of the increasing concerns on how international trade affects environment and vice versa. That said, the debate on trade and environment is not new, and it emerged in the early 1970s with concerns such as environmental protection, environmental policies on trade, and the impact on trade on environment. Most of the developed economies expressed interests on environmental degradation linked with the globalization process for instance, industrial pollution. In the 1980s, environmental concerns increased as more complex environmental issues were raised such as the climate change and the depletion of the ozone layer. Later in the 1990s, the sustainable development concept was introduced as trade liberalization and the globalization process accelerated.
Several theories in support of international trade such as the economic theory has rendered the debate complex as the proponents of the economic theory argue that international trade is vital to economies because it results into a robust economic growth and also generates greater wellbeing of its citizens. That said, environmental policies and goals have been difficult to achieve during these debates. Diverse arguments exist about international trade with a few ecologists in favour of environmental protection as they argue that international trade has resulted into environmental depletion as the demand of world natural resources continue to increase. Of the two perspectives, there is an intermediate concept which has been proposed, the sustainable development which means that as international trade results into economic growth, this growth must be accompanied by environmental policies and strict environmental protection rules. Some of the defenders of sustainable development have supported free trade but with the inclusion of restrictions in multilateral negotiations so as to control the degradation of natural resources.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Impacts of Trade on Environment
- Effects of Scale
- Combination Effect
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the intricate relationship between international trade and the environment, analyzing the impacts of trade liberalization on environmental degradation and examining the complexities of balancing economic growth with sustainable development.
- The effects of international trade on the environment, including scale effects, technological effects, externality effects, and combination effects.
- The role of environmental policies in mitigating the negative impacts of trade on the environment, including the challenges of implementing and enforcing such policies.
- The impact of trade liberalization on the exploitation of natural resources and the potential for environmental depletion.
- The debate surrounding the trade-off between economic growth and environmental protection, particularly in the context of developing economies.
- The influence of environmental regulations on international trade and their implications for economic competitiveness and global output.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the discussion by outlining the historical evolution of the debate on trade and environment. It highlights the increasing concerns over the environmental impacts of globalization and the emergence of sustainable development as a key concept.
- Impacts of Trade on Environment: This chapter delves into the various environmental effects of international trade, categorized by the OECD as policy effects, technological effects, externality effects, scale effects, and combination effects. The focus is on the scale effects, which are linked to the expansion of economic activities due to increased trade, particularly in manufacturing sectors. It discusses the role of environmental policies in mitigating these impacts and the challenges posed by the growth of emerging economies.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This text focuses on the relationship between international trade, environmental degradation, and sustainable development. Key topics include environmental policies, trade liberalization, globalization, economic growth, natural resource exploitation, environmental regulations, and the impact of trade on greenhouse gas emissions.
- Quote paper
- Caroline Mutuku (Author), 2018, Effects of International Trade on the Environment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/430693
