Study Of German Manufacturing Firms: Causal Impact Of European Union Emission Trading Scheme On Firm Behaviour And Economic Performance

Abstract: The results based on the nonparametric nearest neighbor matching suggest a statistically significant positive effect of the EU ETS on the economic performance of the regulated firms during Phase I of the EU ETS. A year-by-year analysis shows that the effect was only significant during the first year of Phase I. The EU ETS, therefore, had a particularly strong effect when it was introduced. It is important to note that the EU ETS does not homogeneously affect firms in the manufacturing sector. We found a significant positive impact of EU ETS on the economic performance of regulated firms in the paper industry.