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Environmental policy in a linear city model of product differentiation

Author

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  • Espínola-Arredondo, Ana
  • Zhao, Huan

Abstract

This paper analyzes how a tax/subsidy policy affects consumers' behavior when choosing between green (pollution-free goods) and conventional products, and its effects on welfare when a proportion of consumers have strong preferences for green goods. We analyze a Hotelling's linear city model where final products by two firms are symmetric in all dimensions except for the externality their production process generates. Our efficiency comparisons suggest that, under a setting of horizontal product differentiation, an environmental regulation (either on polluting firms or consumers buying their products) yields higher social welfare than the absence of policy. Moreover, the proportion of consumers who prefer green products affects the welfare gains from a subsidy or tax policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Espínola-Arredondo, Ana & Zhao, Huan, 2012. "Environmental policy in a linear city model of product differentiation," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(4), pages 461-477, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:endeec:v:17:y:2012:i:04:p:461-477_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Gori, Giuseppe Francesco & Lambertini, Luca, 2013. "Trade liberalisation between asymmetric countries with environmentally concerned consumers," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 549-560.
    2. Wu, Fulan & Li, Pei & Dong, Xuebing & Lu, Yuanzhu, 2022. "Exploring the effectiveness of China's dual credit policy in a differentiated automobile market when some consumers are environmentally aware," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    3. Hamid Hamoudi & Carmen Avilés-Palacios, 2023. "Product Sustainability and Consumer Environmental Awareness in Differentiated Markets," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 29(4), pages 277-291, November.
    4. Sherzod B. Akhundjanov & Felix Muñoz-García, 2019. "Transboundary Natural Resources, Externalities, and Firm Preferences for Regulation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 73(1), pages 333-352, May.
    5. Shizuka Nishikawa, 2015. "Regulating Cournot Oligopoly with Environmental Externalities," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 43(4), pages 449-462, December.
    6. Abdul Baki, Ghina & Marrouch, Walid, 2022. "Environmental taxation in the Bertrand differentiated duopoly: New insights," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    7. Begoña Casino & Lluís M. Granero, 2021. "Green products, market structure, and welfare," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 134(2), pages 103-125, October.
    8. Yektansani, Kiana & Azizi, SeyedSoroosh, 2021. "Using Machine Learning to Predict Consumers’ Environmental Attitudes and Beliefs," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313902, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Ana Espinola-Arredondo & Felix Munoz-Garcia, 2012. "An Excessive Development of Green Products," Working Papers 2012-5, School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University.
    10. Mantovani, Andrea & Tarola, Ornella & Vergari, Cecilia, 2016. "Hedonic and environmental quality: A hybrid model of product differentiation," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 99-123.
    11. Luis Gautier, 2015. "Horizontal product differentiation and policy adjustment in the presence of abatement subsidies and emission taxes," Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 64-81, March.
    12. Carmen Arguedas & Sandra Rousseau, 2021. "Energy-efficient design, consumer awareness, and public policy," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 12(2), pages 231-254, June.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • L5 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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