TY - JOUR
T1 - Export of Recyclable Materials
T2 - Evidence from Japan
AU - Okubo, Toshihiro
AU - Watabe, Yuta
AU - Furuyama, Kaori
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 by the Earth Institute at Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - In this paper, we study the waste haven hypothesis, which predicts that waste materials will be exported from high-income developed countries with stringent environmental regulations to developing countries with less rigorous environmental protection. Using data on Japanese export of recyclable waste resources (plastic waste, waste paper, iron and steel scrap, and nonferrous metal scraps), we find evidence from our econometric analysis that Asian countries provide a waste haven for Japan. In particular, Japan exports waste materials to Asian countries with low per capita incomes and large markets. We suggest that environmental regulation should be tightened to reduce waste trade in Asia.
AB - In this paper, we study the waste haven hypothesis, which predicts that waste materials will be exported from high-income developed countries with stringent environmental regulations to developing countries with less rigorous environmental protection. Using data on Japanese export of recyclable waste resources (plastic waste, waste paper, iron and steel scrap, and nonferrous metal scraps), we find evidence from our econometric analysis that Asian countries provide a waste haven for Japan. In particular, Japan exports waste materials to Asian countries with low per capita incomes and large markets. We suggest that environmental regulation should be tightened to reduce waste trade in Asia.
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U2 - 10.1162/ASEP_a_00414
DO - 10.1162/ASEP_a_00414
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84954059959
VL - 15
SP - 134
EP - 148
JO - Asian Economic Papers
JF - Asian Economic Papers
SN - 1535-3516
IS - 1
ER -