The Transnational Organization of Production, the Scale of Degradation, and Ecoefficiency: A Study of Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Less-Developed Countries

摘要

Drawing from prior research and sociological theorization, this study investigates (1) if the transnational organization of production in the context of foreign investment dependence contributes to overall levels of environmental degradation, and (2) if transnationally controlled manufacturing is relatively more or less ecoefficient. To do so, fixed effects panel regression analyses of 37 less-developed countries from 1975-2000 are conducted to assess the effects of secondary sector foreign investment on total carbon dioxide emissions and emissions per unit of production. Findings indicate that foreign investment in manufacturing is positively associated with both outcomes. Additional results suggest that total population, level of development, and export intensity are all positively associated with total emissions and emissions per unit of production. While supporting theorization about the environmental impacts of foreign investment, this study also underscores the importance of considering both human-ecological and political-economic factors when investigating human-caused environmental degradation.