• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.145-164
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• 2009

Environmental problems, such as the depletion of natural resources, global warming, and the destruction of ecological systems, are among the most serious problems facing the planet. Since the early 1990's, many OECD countries have undertaken green tax reforms by introducing new environmental taxes to protect the environment. Environmental taxes have been used as an instrument of environmental policy more than direct regulation because economic instruments have a comparative advantage over direct regulation in terms of cost effectiveness and pollution abatement incentives. However, one important reason why green tax reforms have not progressed is due to fears regarding the negative effect of environmental taxes on international competitiveness in the industry and trade sectors. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of environmental taxes on industry and trade by using a theoretical model to compare the effects of environmental taxes on pollution-intensive and energy-saving industries.