Environmental preferences and technological choices: is market competition clean or dirty?
File(s)aeri.20210014.pdf (589.17 KB)
Published version
Author(s)
Martin, Ralf
Benabou, Roland
Aghion, Philippe
Roulet, Alexandra
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We investigate the effects of consumers’ environmental concerns and market competition on firms’ decisions to innovate in “clean” technologies. Agents care about their consumption and environmental footprint; firms pursue greener products to soften price competition. Acting as complements, these forces determine R&D, pollution, and welfare. We test the theory using panel data on patents by 7,060 automobile sector firms in 25 countries, environmental willingness to pay, and competition. As predicted, exposure to prosocial attitudes fosters clean innovation, all the more so where competition is strong. Plausible increases in both together can spur it as much as a large fuel price increase. (JEL D22, L62, O31, O34, Q52, Q53, Q54)
Date Issued
2023-03
Date Acceptance
2022-04-21
Citation
The American Economic Review Insights, 2023, 5 (1), pp.1-20
ISSN
2640-2068
Publisher
American Economic Association
Start Page
1
End Page
20
Journal / Book Title
The American Economic Review Insights
Volume
5
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2023 AEA
Identifier
https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aeri.20210014
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-03