TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Borck, Rainald
AU  - Pflüger, Michael P.
        TI  - Green Cities? Urbanization, Trade and the Environment
        PY  - 2015/Jun/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 9104
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp9104
        AB  - This paper establishes a simple theoretical framework which comprises key forces that shape the structure and interrelation of cities to study the interdependencies between urban evolution and the environment. We focus on the potential of the unfettered market forces to economize on emissions. A key finding is that these forces alone may suffice to generate an urban Environmental Kuznets Curve. In particular, reducing trade costs increases per capita incomes and generates a U-shaped evolution of emissions in the process of agglomeration and redispersion. Another key result is that agglomeration per se is typically not a boon for the environment, as total emissions in the total city system are likely to rise.
        KW  - city structure
KW  - city systems
KW  - environmental pollution
KW  - global warming
KW  - Environmental Kuznets Curve
KW  - trade costs
KW  - commuting costs
KW  - housing
        ER  -