Exporters and the environment
利用1990-2006年美国工厂面板数据，发现出口商在控制产出后污染排放低9%-13%，进口竞争导致小型高污染工厂退出，但未发现污染企业向环境规制宽松国家转移的证据。
Abstract This paper documents a relationship between international trade and environmental performance at the plant level. Using a panel of establishment‐level data from 1990–2006, I estimate the relationship between export orientation, import competition and pollution emissions. I find a robust relationship between international trade and pollution levels. Exporters emit 9% to 13% less after controlling for output, but there is significant heterogeneity across industries. Import competition is associated with the exit of the smallest, most pollution‐intensive plants. There is no evidence that this result is caused by polluting firms relocating to countries with low levels of environmental regulation and importing back into the US.