Carbon emissions and the rising effect of trade openness and foreign direct investment: Evidence from a threshold regression model

Abstract

The relationship between carbon emissions, foreign trade openness, and FDI has been studied in prior studies. The previous studies, however, did not examine the link by focusing on carbon emissions in India's industrial sectors. Using carbon emission intensity as a threshold variable and a threshold regression model, we add to the existing studies by assessing the influence of India's industrial sector on carbon emissions. According to the study's findings, there are three threshold effects of foreign direct investment and foreign trade openness on industrial carbon emissions. FDI harms industrial carbon emissions, as it has a characteristically declining and then rising effect coefficient on industrial carbon emissions. Foreign trade openness, however, affects carbon emissions both positively and negatively. Foreign trade openness encourages carbon emission in sectors of the economy with lower carbon emission intensity. However, it also partially constrains it for sectors with high carbon emission intensity. The number of employees, technological innovation, GDP per capita, and economic activity intensity significantly influence carbon emissions in India's industrial sector. This study can extend further in other countries using the recent innovative methodologies.