Economic and Environmental Benefits of Eliminating Log Export Bans

Economic and Environmental Benefits of Eliminating Log Export Bans—The Case of Costa Rica

By Nalin M. Kishor, Muthukumara Mani, Luis F. Constantino

October 1, 2001

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Nalin M. Kishor, Muthukumara Mani, and Luis F. Constantino Economic and Environmental Benefits of Eliminating Log Export Bans—The Case of Costa Rica, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2001) accessed September 18, 2024

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

An increasing number of tropical timber producing nations have enacted bans on export of logs. Proponents argue that a log export ban is a second-best policy tool for addressing environmental externalities; it also creates more jobs and improves scale efficiencies domestically. Theoretical arguments suggest that log export bans are largely incapable of achieving their objectives. However, little quantitative evidence exists. The authors maintain that eliminating log export bans in Costa Rica could generate economic gains as high as $14 million annually in addition to the environmental benefits.

Subject: Agroindustries, Economic sectors, Environment, Exports, International trade, Tariffs, Taxes, Trade barriers

Keywords: Agroindustries, Cost, Costa Rica, Efficiency gains, Export, Export ban, Exports, Forestry, Global, Latin America, LEB, Log export ban (LEB), Log price, Price rise, Processing industry, Result, Sustainable management, Tariffs, Timber export tax, Trade and environment, Trade barriers, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

17
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2001/153
Stock No:

WPIEA1532001
ISBN:

9781451857153
ISSN:

1018-5941

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