Do exports of renewable resources lead to resource depletion? Evidence on fisheries Do exports of renewable resources lead to resource depletion? In the case of fisheries, the answer is yes. This paper uses species-level fisheries data to estimate the causal effect of exporting on the collapse of fisheries. A fishery’s collapse in Japan is used as an instrument for fisheries exports in countries which do not share fish stocks with Japan. Since Japan is a large market for fishery products, the Japanese collapse spurs export demand in other countries. The results suggest a large increase in the likelihood of fisheries collapse as a result of higher exports. Fisheries which are not managed via quotas are more severely affected.
Does trade foster resource management? Evidence on fishing quotas Do resource exports improve the regulation of renewable resources such as fisheries or forests? Theoretical predictions are ambiguous and this is the first empirical analysis to shed light on the effect of exports on resource management. I use detailed country-species level fisheries data to investigate whether exporting facilitates the introduction of quota and Territorial Use Rights for Fishing (TURF) programs for fisheries. The results suggest a positive relationship between a fishery’s exports value and the introduction of quota or TURF programs.
Can communal resource monitoring save the commons? Evidence from community-managed forests in Ugandawith Louis Graham and Anouk S. Rigterink (pre-analysis plan, working paper available on request) This study uses a Randomized Controlled Trial to investigate whether deforestation and forest degradation in community-managed forests can be reduced through systematic forest monitoring by community members. The paper combines causal insights with exceptionally detailed data on forest governance, forest use and forest stocks to improve our understanding of successful approaches to management of communal renewable resources.
Awareness of forest use rules and deforestation in community forests with Louis Graham and Anouk S. Rigterink (pre-analysis plan) This randomized controlled trial aims at strengthening social norms around forest use. Households with access to community forests receive reminders of communal forest use rules. We investigate how improved awareness of forest use rules affects household welfare, forest use, forest degradation and deforestation.
Work in Progress
FDI to China and firms' environmental performance in the UK with Richard Kneller and Edward Manderson