In this paper, we analyze the effects of the interaction between national and local policies designed to reduce an environmental externality that causes environmental damages both nationally and locally. We formulate a theoretical model to develop hypotheses regarding the combined effects of such policies on the stringency of the local policies and on firms’ emissions reductions. To test our hypotheses, we use actual data for Sweden, where emissions of nitrogen oxides from combustion boilers are subject to a heavy national tax and most are also subject to individual emissions standards set by county authorities. Our analytical findings suggest that the national tax has brought along stricter emission standards. This is confirmed in our data, where emission standards are significantly more stringent when combined with the national tax.

在本文中，我们分析了旨在减少环境外部性的国家和地方政策之间的相互作用的影响，这种外部性对国家和地方造成环境破坏。我们制定了一个理论模型，以发展有关这些政策对地方政策的严格性和企业减排的综合影响的假设。为了检验我们的假设，我们使用了瑞典的实际数据，在该数据中，燃烧锅炉排放的氮氧化物要缴纳高额的国家税，而且大多数烟叶还必须遵守县政府制定的个别排放标准。我们的分析结果表明，国家税收带来了更严格的排放标准。我们的数据证实了这一点，与国家税收相结合时，排放标准要严格得多。