Final answer:
Domestic firms operating abroad may find it economically beneficial to adopt environment-friendly standards due to potential penalties and risks associated with non-compliance and environmental disasters. By complying with environmental laws, foreign-owned plants in low-income countries can have a better track record in environmental compliance compared to locally-owned plants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Domestic firms operating abroad may find it economically beneficial to adopt environment-friendly standards because foreign nations may be upset if firms do not use the environment-friendly technology. When international companies build plants in low-income countries with lax environmental laws, they often choose to use the same design and technology as their high-income country plants to minimize the risk of environmental disasters and potential financial losses. By complying with environmental laws, foreign-owned plants in low-income countries can have a better record of environmental compliance compared to locally-owned plants.