Trade Liberalisation, Economic Growth and the Environment

About this book

This book analyzes and quantifies the environmental impact of two closely related phenomena: economic growth and the environment. Previous work in this area tends to address not only the impact of trade or economic growth on the environment, yet, as Matthew Cole shows, the two are inextricably linked. A theoretical and historical background to the relationship between economic growth and the environment, coupled with the environmental impact of international trade, particularly as it has been applied through the GATT/WTO, provides the contextual framework for a detailed empirical analysis. In examining the environmental effects of economic growth and international trade, use is made of Environmental Kuznets Curves (EKCs) and improvements to traditional EKC methodology are suggested. Global policy implications are discussed and conclusions are drawn. A useful supplementary text for any undergraduate or postgraduate studying environmental economics, this book should appeal to researchers and policymakers in the field of international economic development as well as anyone with an interest in the global environment.

Contents

Part 1 The development of the GATT/WTO and its treatment of the environment: the creation of the GATT/WTO; the role of the GATT/WTO; the GATT's 1948 stance on the environment; the development of the GATT/WTO since 1948; conclusion. Part 2 Trade liberalization, the WTO and the environment: trade and the environment; how trade liberalization may help the environment; how trade liberalization may damage the environment; conclusion; appendix. Part 3 Economic growth and the environment: the classical economists and growth; the environmental limits to growth; the rise of sustainable development; developing new indicators of production and welfare; conclusion. Part 4 Economic growth and the environment - an empirical analysis: methodology; the environmental indicators; results; the use of a time trend as a proxy for technological change; criticisms of environmental Kuznets curves; conclusion; appendix. Part 5 The environmental impact of the Uruguay Round: estimating composition, scale and technique effects; results; conclusion; appendix. Part 6 Policy implications: implications for the WTO; the creation of a world environmental organization; implications for national environmental policy; conclusion. Part 7 Conclusion.

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