Convergence Analysis of Environmental Fiscal Pressure across EU-15 Countries

Abstract

This paper analyses the convergence process of environmental fiscal pressure within the framework of the incipient process of economic globalisation and fiscal harmonisation. On the basis of data obtained from Eurostat for the 1987-2008 period, and taking the first fifteen members of the European Union as a reference, we have applied beta, sigma, and gamma-convergence tools to cross-section data. The results obtained have allowed us to verify the existence of convergence in environmental fiscal pressure, except in Denmark and the Low Countries, whose performance is quite different to the rest of the countries due to their high levels of environmental fiscal pressure.

Relationships between Renewable Energy Consumption, Social Factors, and Health: A Panel Vector Auto Regression Analysis of a Cluster of 12 EU Countries

“…Further, a deeper understanding of these relationships can create a more effective decision-making process. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2915 2 of 16Concerning the latter, the increasing interest in renewable energy is also due to Europe's dependency on foreign energy sources and to the recent concerns over the volatility of the price of crude oil [8].Moreover, we are currently witnessing an ongoing debate over how to balance the relationships between human health, environmental concerns, and economic development [12][13][14].In this regard, in December 2019 the European Commission presented the European Green Deal, which establishes that the European Union needs to transform itself into a resource-efficient and competitive economy with zero net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, and its economic growth should detach itself from resources use. The main objective is to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy, and, consequently, stopping climate change, cutting pollution, and improving the health of population [12].Moreover, European Union member countries launched, at the beginning of 2005, the CO 2 emissions trading scheme.…”

“…First, they represent an incentive for companies to research and invest in more environmentally friendly technologies, or to deploy fewer resources. Secondly, the increased fiscal revenue resulting from higher tax collection can be used to reduce taxes on labor, savings, and capital, thereby favoring higher investment in environmental conservation [13].Health, the main proxy for which is life expectancy at birth, certainly represents one of the key indicators of a population's well-being and the economic development of a country [14]. Some factors, such as industrialization and modernization, have allowed life expectancy to improve considerably.…”

“…Moreover, we are currently witnessing an ongoing debate over how to balance the relationships between human health, environmental concerns, and economic development [12][13][14].…”

“…First, they represent an incentive for companies to research and invest in more environmentally friendly technologies, or to deploy fewer resources. Secondly, the increased fiscal revenue resulting from higher tax collection can be used to reduce taxes on labor, savings, and capital, thereby favoring higher investment in environmental conservation [13].…”

Green Procurement Decisions with Carbon Leakage by Global Suppliers and Order Quantities under Different Carbon Tax

“…Moreover, setting different target reduction ratios for GHG emission for each country is also a topic for future studies. Additionally, different carbon prices among grouped EU-15 countries should be analyzed based on environmental fiscal pressure [55]. Finally, this proposed method and analysis should apply to family business [56] and inter-organizational cooperation [57] since the global warming needs to be dealt with by worldwide and small and medium sized manufacturers.…”