CEA Fellow: M. Scott Taylor

M. Scott Taylor is a prominent Canadian environmental economist whose groundbreaking research sheds light on the complex interactions between international trade, economic growth, and environmental outcomes. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of these critical issues and has informed policy discussions on a global scale.

Taylor received his B.A. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Calgary, followed by a Ph.D. from Queen's University in 1991. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held academic positions at the University of British Columbia, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Calgary, where he held the Canada Research Chair in International, Energy and Environmental Economics from 2004 to 2018. Currently, he is a Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary.

Some of Taylor’s most influential contributions have come from his research examining how international trade affects environmental quality. This work, with Brian Copeland and other coauthors, produced several papers in outlets such as the Quarterly Journal Economics and American Economic Review, and has been foundational in the development of theory and empirical work in the field. One of Taylor's most prominent papers in this area, with Brian Copeland and Werner Antweiler (American Economic Review, 2001), cleverly combines theory and empirics to answer the question of whether free trade is good for the environment, and received the 2012 Publication of Enduring Quality Award from the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. His co-authored 2003 book "Trade and the Environment: Theory and Evidence" with Brian Copeland, has become a cornerstone of the field and received the 2004 Douglas Purvis Memorial Prize for its outstanding contribution to Canadian economic policy.

Taylor's research has been instrumental in deepening our understanding of how environmental regulations influence the location of polluting industries and international trade patterns. His work unmasking the “pollution haven effect,” joint with Arik Levinson (International Economic Review, 2008), have important implications for the design of environmental policies in an increasingly globalized world.

In addition, Taylor has made significant contributions to the study of renewable resources, including fisheries, forestry, and marine mammals. His research, joint with Brian Copeland, extended our understanding of resource management (American Economic Review, 2009). His careful work has also provided novel insights into the near extinction of the North American bison (American Economic Review, 2011). His recent research on the impact of vessel noise pollution on killer whale populations has provided new insights into the threats facing marine ecosystems, highlighting the need for improved shipping regulations and conservation efforts.