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On the option to invest in pollution control under a regime of tradable emissions allowances

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  • Margaret C. Insley

Abstract

. Optimal decisions of a firm facing the option of retrofitting its plant to reduce pollution and thereby eliminate the need to purchase emissions allowances are analysed. The decision is treated as a real option with the price of pollution permits following a known stochastic process. The model is formulated as a set of one‐dimensional partial differential equations. At discrete points in time, the firm owner makes optimal decisions about the retrofit, including whether to mothball temporarily. The model is used to analyse a firm's decision to instal a scrubber as a result of the 1990 U.S. Clean Air Act. JEL Classification: Q25, D81, G31 Sur la possibilité d’investir dans le contrôle de la pollution dans un régime de permis d’émission de pollution échangeables commercialement. Ce mémoire examine les décisions optimales d’une entreprise face à la possibilité d’adapter ses installations pour réduire la pollution, et ce faisant d’éliminer le besoin de se procurer des permis d’émission de pollution sur le marché. Le décision est traitée comme une option réelle où le prix des permis résulte d’un processus stochastique connu. Le modèle est formulé sous forme d’un ensemble d’équations différentielles partielles à une dimension. A des points discontinus dans le temps, le propriétaire de l’entreprise prend des décisions optimales de mise à niveau des installations – y compris la possibilité de les fermer temporairement. Le modèle est utilisé pour analyser une décision d’installer un épurateur suite à la mise en place de la loi américaine de 1990 (Clean Air Act).

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret C. Insley, 2003. "On the option to invest in pollution control under a regime of tradable emissions allowances," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(4), pages 860-883, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:36:y:2003:i:4:p:860-883
    DOI: 10.1111/1540-5982.t01-3-00004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies

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