This paper shows that environmental, labour and other standards can be effective strategic policy instruments even when they are strictly non-discriminatory. This is because standards can be set which the low cost producer optimally chooses not to meet, allowing the high cost producer to...

This paper analyzes the interaction between two political economy decisions by a government: whether to privatize a public firm and what environmental policy to choose (an environmental tax or an emission standard). We find that when market competition is weak the government does not privatize...

Verzichten Regierungen auf Umweltschutzmaßnahmen, um die internationale Wettbewerbsfähigkeit ihrer Industrie nicht zu gefährden oder eine Abwanderung von Unternehmen zu verhindern? Oder forciert genau umgekehrt eine rigide Umweltschutzpolitik die Innovationsfähigkeit der Unternehmen und...

This paper characterizes environmental regulations which induce polluting Bertrand competitors to invest efficiently in environmental R&D. Post-innovation benefits to raising rivals' costs provide firms with incentives to innovate. Although optimal behavior cannot be elicited with pollution...