We (re)evaluate the general-equilibrium effects of (environmental) policies from the perspectives of input-output networks and firm dynamics and heterogeneity. Using China’s carbon emission trading system (ETS) as an example, we find that ETS leads to more patent applications, especially the ones associated with low-carbon technologies in the targeted sectors. The effects are muted at the firm level due to selection effects, whereby only larger firms are significantly and positively affected. Meanwhile, larger firms occupy a small share in number but a large share of aggregate outcomes, contributing to the discrepancy between the effects of ETS at the individual firm and aggregate sector levels. The effects also diffuse in input-output networks, leading to more patents in upstream/downstream sectors. We build and estimate the first firm dynamics model with input-output linkages and regulatory policies in the literature and conduct policy experiments. ETS’s effects are amplified given input-output networks.

以中国的二氧化碳排放权交易机制(Carbon dioxide Emission Trading System, CO2ETS)为准自然实验，本文旨在探讨环境规制对企业金融化的影响。获取 2007年至 2020 年中国上市公司的面板数据和采用滞后型双重差分法，我们发现，二氧化碳排放权交易机制显著抑制了企业金融化。经过一系列稳健型检验，本文的主要结果仍然稳健。此外，我们发现碳排放权交易机制通过两个渠道影响企业金融化：信息不对称和企业投资机会。在异质性分析中，我们发现环境规制对非国有企业和非重污染行业企业金融的抑制效果更大。本文得到结论，二氧化碳排放权交易制度可以有效地实现减少 CO2 排放和抑制企业金融化的双赢局面。