My preliminary results so far suggest that the effects of environmental regulation on the sectoral-level labor demand are small. Whether these effects are positive or negative, however, depends on the output demand elasticity. This suggests that the creation of a “green job” is likely to take place at the expense of a lost “brown job”.My doctoral thesis consists of studies aiming to evaluate the effects of various pro-environmental actions, such as energy efficiency improvements or environmental regulations, on the Swedish industrial demand for inputs such as energy and labor. Currently, I am working on a paper investigating the effects of regulatory-induced environmental management costs on the labor demand within the Swedish heavy industry.
In recent years, the concept of ‘green jobs’ has become part of the policy debate concerning the wider adaptation of society to climate change. In this policy discussion, it is sometimes argued that ‘green jobs’ can contribute to solving both the challenges associated with climate change and the permanent high unemployment rate observed in many industrialized countries. However, limited empirical evidence are so far available based on US data, and do not strongly suggest such a positive outcome of environmental regulations. With this study, I aim to contribute to empirical findings in this matter by conducting an empirical analysis for Sweden.
Golnaz Amjadi is in the final year of her doctoral studies. So more information regarding her research will certainly follow.
(Photo Alejandro Egüez)