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Overcoming public resistance to carbon taxes

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  • Carattini, Stefano
  • Carvalho, Maria
  • Fankhauser, Samuel

Abstract

Carbon taxes represent a cost-effective way to steer the economy towards a greener future. In the real world, their application has however been limited. In this paper, we address one of the main obstacles to carbon taxes: public opposition. We identify drivers of and barriers to public support, and, under the form of stylized facts, provide general lessons on the acceptability of carbon taxes. We derive our lessons from a growing literature, as well as from a combination of policy “failures” and “successes”. Based on our stylized facts, we formulate a set of suggestions concerning the design of carbon taxes. We consider the use of trial periods, tax escalators, environmental earmarking, lump-sum transfers, tax rebates, and advanced communication strategies, among others. This paper aims to contribute to the policy debate, ideally leading to more success stories, and less policy failures.

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  • Carattini, Stefano & Carvalho, Maria & Fankhauser, Samuel, 2018. "Overcoming public resistance to carbon taxes," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 88137, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:88137
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    Keywords

    carbon taxes; carbon pricing; acceptability; public support; revenue recycling; P2SKP1_165028; ES/K006576/1;
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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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