Impact of Export Quality Upgrading on Environmental Sustainability: Evidence from the East Asia and Pacific Region

Thi Quynh Anh NGUYEN

Master's thesis

Impact of Export Quality Upgrading on Environmental Sustainability

Abstract:

In the international economy, export quality is considered to be one of the most critical elements to promote sustainable growth, exercising country comparative advantages and integrating fully into the globalization process. Countries could choose to specialize in exporting either manufactured goods or raw materials based on their comparative advantages in the different stages of economic growth. However, a currently arising concern is whether export quality improvement has any impact on the environment quality. This research investigates the effect of export quality upgrading on environmental sustainability measured by CO2 emissions. With the empirical evidence from a panel data of ten East Asian and Pacific countries during the 40-year period of 1975-2014, the author has suggested the findings that the export quality amelioration of goods and services increases the production-based CO2 emissions in both the long run and short run. The robustness check confirms this result and infers that squared export quality index could probably have a significantly negative effect upon CO2 emissions in the long run.

Abstract:

In the international economy, export quality is considered to be one of the most critical elements to promote sustainable growth, exercising country comparative advantages and integrating fully into the globalization process. Countries could choose to specialize in exporting either manufactured goods or raw materials based on their comparative advantages in the different stages of economic growth. However, a currently arising concern is whether export quality improvement has any impact on the environment quality. This research investigates the effect of export quality upgrading on environmental sustainability measured by CO2 emissions. With the empirical evidence from a panel data of ten East Asian and Pacific countries during the 40-year period of 1975-2014, the author has suggested the findings that the export quality amelioration of goods and services increases the production-based CO2 emissions in both the long run and short run. The robustness check confirms this result and infers that squared export quality index could probably have a significantly negative effect upon CO2 emissions in the long run.

Keywords

Export quality index, export quality upgrading, CO2 emissions, environmental sustainability, East Asia and Pacific region.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 4. 2019

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 25. 6. 2019
• Supervisor: prof. Pascale Combes Motel

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Geography / International Development Studies