环境规制、诱导创新与绿色转型：来自企业层面的证据
Environmental regulation, induced innovation, and greener transition: Firm-level evidence
Journal of Development Economics · 2025 · [{"name": "Manho Kang", "affiliation": ["Georgia Institute of Technology"]}, {"name": "Jaerim Choi", "affiliation": ["Yonsei University"]}, {"name": "Sunghoon Chung", "affiliation": ["Korea Development Institute"]}]
中文摘要
本文考察环境规制对危险化学品使用的影响，以及创新在企业调整过程中的作用。基于一个新构建的、将企业层面化学品使用与专利活动相关联的数据集，我们分析了韩国2015年颁布的、可合理视为外生的化学品安全法的影响。研究发现，面临更严格规制的企业减少了对危险化学品的依赖，以遵守新法律。创新在这一转型中发挥了关键作用，推动企业转向环境友好型实践。具体而言，更严格的规制促使企业层面产生更多创新，而产品创新程度更高的企业显著减少了危险化学品的使用。这一效应在将危险物质用作中间投入品的企业中尤为强烈。这些发现表明，设计良好的规制能够通过驱动创新，推动绿色化学原则——即通过重新设计实现预防。
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of environmental regulations on hazardous chemical use and the role of innovation in firms’ adjustment processes. Using a newly constructed dataset that links firm-level chemical usage with patent activity, we analyze the effects of Korea’s plausibly exogenous chemical safety Acts promulgated in 2015. Our findings show that firms subject to stricter regulations reduced their reliance on hazardous chemicals to comply with the new laws. Innovation plays a crucial role in this transition, facilitating a shift toward eco-friendly practices. Specifically, stricter regulations induced more firm-level innovation, and firms with greater product innovation significantly reduced their hazardous chemical usage. The effect was particularly strong among firms that use hazardous substances as intermediate inputs. These findings demonstrate that well-designed regulation can promote the principles of Green Chemistry, prevention through redesign, by driving innovation.