Induced innovation and international environmental agreements: evidence from the Ozone regime

Dugoua, Eugenie ORCID: 0000-0002-4176-8740 (2021) Induced innovation and international environmental agreements: evidence from the Ozone regime. Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment Working Papers (363). Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

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Abstract

Global environmental problems are some of the most pressing issues that humanity is facing. There are few examples of success at resolving them; the fight to protect the ozone layer is one of them. This paper provides evidence that the Montreal Protocol’s restrictions on chlorofluorocarbons ( CFCs) triggered a substantial increase in research and innovation on alternatives to ozone-depleting molecules. I compare CFC substitute molecules to molecules that have similar uses but are unrelated to ozone depletion. After the signing of the agreement, patents on CFC substitutes increased by 400% and scientific articles by 500% compared to the control group. These findings suggest that agreements can indeed trigger the development of technological solutions, thereby improving the benefit-cost equation of environmental protection

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Official URL:	https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publicatio...
Additional Information:	© 2021 The Author
Divisions:	Geography & Environment
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences J Political Science > JZ International relations T Technology > T Technology (General)
JEL classification:	Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q55 - Technological Innovation O - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Technological Change; Research and Development > O31 - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives O - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Technological Change; Research and Development > O33 - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes F - International Economics > F5 - International Relations and International Political Economy > F53 - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
Date Deposited:	15 Jun 2021 09:12
Last Modified:	01 Oct 2024 03:19
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/110859

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