Does Global Value Chain Embedment Contribute to Environmental Pollution in Emerging Economies?

Scientifically judging the environmental effects of embedding in global value chain (GVC) has important theoretical significance and practical value, especially for emerging economies, but there are few studies on relationship between GVC embedment pollution economies. Based classical theory Grossman, this study analyzed mechanism framework then used panel data 16 economies from 1998 to 2019 empirical tests. After using FGLS regression model a series tests, main conclusions as follows. (1) The impact includes five effects. scale effect brings about expansion production activities increases emission pollutants. technological refers improvements level clean technology, which brought by acquisition acceptance “technology spillover” chain. structural is reduction pollutant emissions improvement environment through economic upgrading. income “demand push” improve reduce triggered an increase national income. lock-in means that leaders hinder achieving high-level upgrades, intending lock them into links with relatively high pollution. These not static interlinked affect each other. (2) results show initially negative environment, deepening embedment, will decrease; is, it shows inverted U-shaped relationship. (3) density energy use, share fossil fuels, per capita positively correlated pollution, while population manufacturing negatively correlated. This also provides suggestions how process future.