The literature on international environmental agreements has recognized the role transfers play in encouraging participation in international environmental agreements (IEAs), but the few results achieved so far are overly specific and do not exploit the full potential of transfers for successful treaty-making. Therefore, in this paper, we develop a framework that enables us to study the role of...

Participation in international trade potentially brings huge benefits to developing countries. However, the design and setup of the international trade regime, most importantly the rules and regulations stipulated in the agreements of the World Trade Organization (WTO), often make it difficult for developing countries to fully tap this potential. As will be argued in this paper using descriptiv...

We evaluate the e cacy of international trade in carbon emission permits when countries are guided strictly by their national self-interest. To do so, we construct a calibrated general equilibrium model that jointly describes the world economy and the strategic incentives that guide the design of national abatement policies. Countries' decisions about their participation in a trading system and...

Existing research indicates that different dimensions of the design of international institutions are interrelated. In particular, deep agreements have been shown to be more flexible. We make two contributions to this literature. On the one hand, we argue and empirically show that the positive relationship between depth and flexibility holds for preferential trade agreements (PTAs). On the othe...

We analyze bargaining over international climate agreements in a setting with incomplete information about abatement costs. Incomplete information is known as one of the key reasons why negotiations may fail more generally, and why efficiency gains cannot be exploited. We ask whether unilateral commitment to high abatement reduces or increases the likelihood for an efficient negotiation outcome...

This EA Sourcebook Update focuses on assessing the potential environmental impacts of proposed sewage outfalls on coastal waters and estuaries. It is intended to assist those involved in managing coastal wastewater discharges and planning appropriate levels of pollution control. It complements Environmental Sourcebook Updates nos. 2, 7 and 10 concerned respectively with environmental screening,...