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The Kindergarten Rule of Sustainable Growth

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  • M. Scott Taylor

    (University of Calgary)

  • William A. Brock

Abstract

The relationship between economic growth and the environment is not well understood: we have only limited understanding of the basic science involved and very limited data. Because of these difficulties it is especially important to develop a series of relatively simple theoretical models that generate stark predictions. This paper presents one such model where societies implement "the Kindergarten rule of sustainable growth." Following the Kindergarten rule means implementing zero emission technologies in either finite time or asymptotically. The underlying simplicity of the model allows us to provide new predictions linking the path of environmental quality to pollutant characteristics (stocks vs. flows; toxics vs. irritants) and primitives of the economic system. It also provides a novel Environmental Catch-up Hypothesis.
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Suggested Citation

  • M. Scott Taylor & William A. Brock, "undated". "The Kindergarten Rule of Sustainable Growth," Working Papers 2014-70, Department of Economics, University of Calgary, revised 29 Sep 2014.
    • Handle: RePEc:clg:wpaper:2014-70
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    File URL: https://econ.ucalgary.ca/sites/econ.ucalgary.ca.manageprofile/files/unitis/publications/1-5523589/The_Kindergarten_Rule_of_Sustainable_Growth.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Brian R. Copeland & M. Scott Taylor, 2004. "Trade, Growth, and the Environment," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 42(1), pages 7-71, March.
    2. Ingmar Schumacher, 2019. "Climate Policy Must Favour Mitigation Over Adaptation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 74(4), pages 1519-1531, December.
    3. Liu Xiangdong & Wang Qi, 2016. "An Optimal Emission Mechanism of Sustainability of China: How to Achieve a Win-Win Solution Between Economy and Environment?," Journal of Systems Science and Information, De Gruyter, vol. 4(6), pages 534-546, December.
    4. Valeria Costantini & Chiara Martini, 2010. "A Modified Environmental Kuznets Curve for sustainable development assessment using panel data," International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(1/2), pages 84-122.
    5. Brock, William A. & Taylor, M. Scott, 2005. "Economic Growth and the Environment: A Review of Theory and Empirics," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 28, pages 1749-1821, Elsevier.
    6. UÄŸur UrsavaÅŸ & Veli Yilanci, 2023. "Convergence analysis of ecological footprint at different time scales: Evidence from Southern Common Market countries," Energy & Environment, , vol. 34(2), pages 429-442, March.
    7. Nicholas Apergis & James E. Payne, 2020. "NAFTA and the convergence of CO2 emissions intensity and its determinants," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 161, pages 1-9.
    8. Stephane Dées, 2020. "Assessing the Role of Institutions in Limiting the Environmental Externalities of Economic Growth," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 76(2), pages 429-445, July.
    9. William Brock & M. Taylor, 2010. "The Green Solow model," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 127-153, June.
    10. Kwaku Addai & Sema Yılmaz Genç & Rui Alexandre Castanho & Gualter Couto & Ayhan Orhan & Muhammad Umar & Dervis Kirikkaleli, 2023. "Financial Risk and Environmental Sustainability in Poland: Evidence from Novel Fourier-Based Estimators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, March.
    11. Maria Cunha-e-Sá & Ana Reis, 2007. "The Optimal Timing of Adoption of a Green Technology," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 36(1), pages 35-55, January.
    12. Brock,W.A. & Taylor,M.S., 2003. "Economic growth and the environment : matching the stylized facts," Working papers 16, Wisconsin Madison - Social Systems.
    13. Brock,W.A., 2003. "Tipping points, abrupt opinion changes, and punctuated policy change," Working papers 28, Wisconsin Madison - Social Systems.
    14. G. Bahar Senol & Oya Pinar Ardic, 2009. "Pollution, Abatementm and Sustainable Growth: A Schumpeterian Approach," 2009 Meeting Papers 800, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    15. Mazzanti, Massimiliano & Zoboli, Roberto, 2008. "Waste generation, waste disposal and policy effectiveness," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(10), pages 1221-1234.

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    JEL classification:

    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics
    • D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making
    • H - Public Economics

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