The sociology of ecologically unequal exchange and carbon dioxide emissions, 1960–2005

The author engages the sociological theory of ecologically unequal exchange to assess the extent to which levels of per capita anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions are a function of the “vertical flow” of exports to high-income nations. Results of cross-national fixed effects panel model estimates indicate that levels of such emissions are positively associated with the vertical flow of exports, and the relationship is much more pronounced for lower-income countries than for high-income countries. Additional findings suggest that the observed relationship for lower-income nations has grown in magnitude through time, indicating that structural associations between high-income and lower-income countries have become increasingly ecologically unequal, at least in the context of greenhouse gas emissions. These results hold, net of various important controls.

► I examine the relationship between CO2 emissions and exports to high income nations.
► Percent of exports to high income nations increases per capita CO2 emissions.
► The effect is more pronounced for low income than high income nations.
► For low income nations, the relationship increases in magnitude through time.
► Results indicate increasing ecologically unequal relationships between nations.