Pioneer countries and the global diffusion of environmental innovations: Theses from the viewpoint of ecological modernisation theory

Huber, Joseph

doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.03.004

Cited by 135 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…As documented in the empirical literature, many ESTs have first been innovated within regulatory leader countries in response to domestic environmental standards, which have stimulated local demand for associated compliance technologies (Beise and Rennings 2005;Brandt and Svendsen 2006;Popp 2006). However, once a particular compliance technology has been developed to comply with a specific standard, the adoption of similar environmental standards elsewhere may lead to its cross-border transfer (Beise and Rennings 2005;Huber 2008). Firms in early-regulating ("leader") source countries are likely to possess a competitive advantage vis-à-vis potential domestic competitors in later-regulating ("follower") countries, stemming from the fact that their pre-existing compliance technologies benefit from dynamic scale economies and learning effects (Brandt and Svendsen 2006).…”

Section: Understanding the Relationship Between Environmental Regulatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulatory Distance and the Transfer of New Environmentally Sound Technologies: Evidence from the Automobile Sector

2012

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SummaryThis article examines the impact of environmental regulation within countries as well as regulatory distance between countries on international technology transfer. We employ a recently-assembled dataset of automobile emission standards and corresponding data on non-resident patent filing of automotive environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) in 49 countries between 1992 and 2007. Our analysis shows that an important factor shaping transfers is relative regulatory distance in that countries are more likely to receive newlyinnovated technologies from source countries whose regulatory standards are "closer" to their own. Absolute stringency matters as well, consistent with conventional wisdom, although raising domestic environmental standards as such only leads to higher inflows of ESTs in developing countries. Novel to the literature, we show that regulatory standards in the third markets of a country's trading partners also influence transfers: countries receive more ESTs from a specific source country where they export more to markets whose regulatory standards are similar to those of the source country of the transferred technologies. As concerns both domestic regulation and regulation in a country's major export markets, it is therefore regulatory distance that matters most rather than absolute regulatory levels. This article examines the impact of environmental regulation within countries as well as regulatory distance between countries on international technology transfer. We employ a recently-assembled dataset of automobile emission standards and corresponding data on non-resident patent filing of automotive environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) in 49 countries between 1992 and 2007. Our analysis shows that an important factor shaping transfers is relative regulatory distance in that countries are more likely to receive newly-innovated technologies from source countries whose regulatory standards are "closer" to their own. Absolute stringency matters as well, consistent with conventional wisdom, although raising domestic environmental standards as such only leads to higher inflows of ESTs in developing countries. Novel to the literature, we show that regulatory standards in the third markets of a country's trading partners also influence transfers: countries receive more ESTs from a specific source country where they export more to markets whose regulatory standards are similar to those of the source country of the transferred technologies. As concerns both domestic regulation and regulation in a country's major export markets, it is therefore regulatory distance that matters most rather than absolute regulatory levels. Keywords

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Section: Understanding the Relationship Between Environmental Regulatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulatory Distance and the Transfer of New Environmentally Sound Technologies: Evidence from the Automobile Sector

2012

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“…The core argument of EM is that although democracy, the state and the market have gone astray, they can be restructured to make them sustainable (Christoff 1996;Mol and Spaargaren 2000;Dryzek 2005;Howes 2005). EM argues that economic growth can be decoupled from raw material throughput, energy use and waste generation through the application of new technology and the redesign of institutions (Berger et al 2001;Janicke and Jacob 2004;Dryzek 2005;Howes 2005;Huber 2008;Janicke 2008).…”

Section: The Themes Of Ecological Modernisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It assumes that well designed interventions by government do not hinder economic growth but instead stimulate new and more efficient industries (Blowers 1997;Weale 1998;Mol and Sonnenfeld 2000;Janicke and Jacob 2004;Huber 2008;Janicke 2008). Industry reduces its costs from increased technological efficiency and both the environment and community benefit from less pollution.…”

Section: The Themes Of Ecological Modernisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Industry reduces its costs from increased technological efficiency and both the environment and community benefit from less pollution. Governments continue to play a regulatory role and also cast as a facilitator to assist industry in becoming more sustainable (Huber 2008). New policies are directed towards correcting market failures by improving information on the impacts of actions, imposing green tax regimes to internalise negative externalities, and pricing ecological goods and services so that they can be properly valued (Lundqvist 2000).…”

Section: The Themes Of Ecological Modernisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…New policies are directed towards correcting market failures by improving information on the impacts of actions, imposing green tax regimes to internalise negative externalities, and pricing ecological goods and services so that they can be properly valued (Lundqvist 2000). There is strong emphasis on retaining the key institutions of modernity (science, technology, the market, industry and the state) but embedding ecologically-reformed economic practices within them (Berger et al 2001;Huber 2008). Much of the early investigation of this theory was based on European case studies and less work has been done on applying the theory to Australia, providing an opportunity for some original research.…”

Section: The Themes Of Ecological Modernisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adapting ecological modernisation to the Australian context

Howes

McKenzie

Gleeson

et al. 2010

Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences

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This article uses a broad range of ecological modernisation (EM) literature to derive five core theoretical themes: technological innovation; engaging with economic imperatives; political and institutional change; transforming the role of social movements; and discursive change. These themes are then developed into an analytical framework and adapted to suit the Australian context. The underlying argument is that while key elements of weak EM can be found in most environmental and sustainability policies, stronger versions have more transformative potential. Care must be taken, however, in transplanting the theory from the European political and economic environment to the Australian context.

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Urban Sustainability Pilot Projects: Fit or Misfit between Challenge and Solution?

Bouteligier

2014

Scale‐sensitive Governance of the Environment

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Pioneer countries and the global diffusion of environmental innovations: Theses from the viewpoint of ecological modernisation theory

Cited by 135 publications

References 64 publications

Regulatory Distance and the Transfer of New Environmentally Sound Technologies: Evidence from the Automobile Sector

Regulatory Distance and the Transfer of New Environmentally Sound Technologies: Evidence from the Automobile Sector

Adapting ecological modernisation to the Australian context

Urban Sustainability Pilot Projects: Fit or Misfit between Challenge and Solution?

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