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Devolution, sustainability and GDP convergence: Is the Welsh agenda achievable?

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Author Info
Lynn Mainwaring
Richard Jones
David Blackaby

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Abstract

Mainwaring L., Jones R. and Blackaby D. (2006) Devolution, sustainability and GDP convergence: is the Welsh agenda achievable?, Regional Studies 40 , 679--689. The Welsh Assembly Government has a constitutional duty to promote sustainable development. The devolution settlement does not, however, empower the Assembly to deviate from UK tax rates, while the Assembly Government has itself adopted ambitious gross domestic product growth targets. Here, the paper considers notions of sustainability and it attempts to place the Welsh agenda within those conceptual approaches. It then discusses the significance of the absence of tax variation as an instrument for generating relative sustainability gains. In particular, it examines the regional relevance of the 'double-dividend’ argument that governments can substitute efficient environmental taxes for inefficient labour-market taxes. Finally, it considers the implications for sustainability of promoting quality of life, or happiness, achievement above the gross domestic product as the main goal of policy. The lessons drawn should be of relevance to other semi-autonomous regions. Mainwaring L., Jones R. et Blackaby D. (2006) La régionalisation, le développement durable et la convergence du PIB: le programme gallois, est-il réalisable?, Regional Studies 40 , 679--689. L'Assemblée galloise se voit attribuer en droit constitutionnel la promotion du développement durable. Néanmoins, l'accord sur la régionalisation ne donne pas à l'Assemblée le droit de s'écarter des taux d'imposition en vigueur au R-U, alors que l'Assemblée elle-même a visé des objectifs ambitieux pour ce qui est du PIB. Cet article cherche à examiner des notions de développement durable et à relativiser le programme gallois par rapport à ces approches conceptuelles. Il s'ensuit une discussion de l'importance du manque de variation fiscale comme outil qui engendre des gains relatifs dus au développement durable. En particulier, on examine l'importance régionale de l'argument en faveur du 'double dividende’, à savoir les gouvernements peuvent substituer des taxes écologiques efficaces au taxes du travail inefficaces. Pour finir, on considère les retombées pour le développement durable de la promotion de la qualité de la vie, ou du bonheur, par-dessus le PIB comme but principal de la politique. Les leçons ainsi tirées devraient présenter de l'intérêt pour d'autres régions semiautonomes. Pays de Galles Régionalisation Développement durable Double-dividende Bonheur Mainwaring L., Jones R. und Blackaby D. (2006) Machtübertragung, Nachhaltigkeit und Konvergenz des Bruttoinlandsprodukts: ist das walisische Programm durchführbar?, Regional Studies 40 , 679--689. Die Regierung der Parlamentarischen Versammlung von Wales hat die in der Verfassung verankerte Pflicht, nachhaltige Entwicklung zu fördern. Das Übereinkommen der Machtübertragung befähigt die parlamentarische Versammlung jedoch nicht, von den Steuersätzen des UK abzuweichen, obschon die Regierung der parlamentarischen Versammlung sich selber ehrgeizige Wachstumsziele für das Bruttoinlandsprodukt gesetzt hat. Der vorliegende Aufsatz geht auf Vorstellungen der Nachhaltigkeit ein und versucht, das walisische Programm in diesen begrifflichen Ansatz einzuordnen. Dann folgt eine Diskussion der Bedeutung fehlender Steuerunterschiede als Instrument zur Schaffung einer verhältnismäßigen Zunahme der Nachhaltigkeit. Insbesondere wird die regionale Zunahme des Argumentes der 'doppelten Dividende’ untersucht, das Regierungen gestattet, unwirksame Arbeitsmarktsteuern durch effiziente Umweltsteuern zu ersetzen. Abschliessend werden die Implikationen für die Nachhaltigkeit der Förderung der Lebensqualität, bz.w.des Erreichens einer Zufriedenheit über das Bruttosozialprodukt hinaus als Hauptziel der Bestrebungen besprochen. Wales Machtübertragung nachhaltige Entwicklung doppelte Dividende Zufriedenheit Mainwaring L., Jones R. y Blackaby D. (2006) Transferencia de competencias, sostenibilidad y convergencia del PIB: ¿Se puede alcanzar el programa de Gales?, Regional Studies 40 , 679--689. El Gobierno de la Asamblea de Gales tiene el deber constitucional de fomentar el desarrollo sostenible. Sin embargo, la transferencia de competencias no implica que la Asamblea esté capacitada para desviarse del tipo de gravamen que se aplica en el Reino Unido, y al mismo tiempo el Gobierno de Gales ha adoptado ambiciosos objetivos de crecimiento del PIB. En este documento consideramos las nociones de sostenibilidad e intentamos ubicar la agenda de Gales en estos planteamientos conceptuales. Asimismo analizamos en qué medida es importante la ausencia de una variación fiscal como instrumento para generar beneficios relativos de sostenibilidad. En concreto, examinarmos la relevancia regional del argumento de 'doble dividendo’ según el cual los gobiernos pueden sustituir impuestos para el mercado laboral por impuestos eficaces para el medio ambiente. Para terminar, examinamos las implicaciones de la sostenibilidad en el fomento, por encima del PIB, de la calidad de vida o la felicidad como el objetivo principal de la política. Las enseñanzas extraídas deberían ser importantes para otras regiones semiautonómas. Gales Transferencia de competencias Desarrollo sostenible Dividendo doble Felicidad

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Article provided by Taylor and Francis Journals in its journal Regional Studies.

Volume (Year): 40 (2006)
Issue (Month): 6 (August)
Pages: 679-689
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Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:40:y:2006:i:6:p:679-689

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Related research
Keywords: Wales; Devolution; Sustainable development; Double-dividend; Happiness;

References listed on IDEAS
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  2. Easterlin, Richard A., 1995. "Will raising the incomes of all increase the happiness of all?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 35-47, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Bruno S. Frey & Alois Stutzer, 2002. "What Can Economists Learn from Happiness Research?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 40(2), pages 402-435, June.
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  4. Morgenstern, Richard D. & Pizer, William A. & Shih, Jhih-Shyang, 2002. "Jobs Versus the Environment: An Industry-Level Perspective," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 412-436, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  5. Palmer, Karen & Oates, Wallace E & Portney, Paul R, 1995. "Tightening Environmental Standards: The Benefit-Cost or the No-Cost Paradigm?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 119-32, Fall. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Pearce, David W. & Atkinson, Giles D., 1993. "Capital theory and the measurement of sustainable development: an indicator of "weak" sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 8(2), pages 103-108, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Clark, Andrew E. & Oswald, Andrew J., 1996. "Satisfaction and comparison income," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(3), pages 359-381, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  8. Tony Jackson, 2001. "Environmental Taxation: A New Tool for Local Planning?," Regional Studies, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 80-85, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  9. Adam B. Jaffe et al., 1995. "Environmental Regulation and the Competitiveness of U.S. Manufacturing: What Does the Evidence Tell Us?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 33(1), pages 132-163, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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