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The reallocative and heterogeneous effects of cap-and-trade

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  • Mark Curtis, E.
  • Lee, Jonathan M.

Abstract

This paper explores the heterogeneous response of manufacturing firms to the NOx Budget Trading Program (NBP), a large scale cap-and-trade program that was implemented in nineteen states in 2004. Specifically, we examine the differential effect of the program across firms of different ages and sizes. Results show that while overall employment in polluting industries declines, this decline is driven entirely by incumbent firms and that new firm activity increased following the NBP. The findings provide evidence that, unlike command-and-control programs, cap-and-trade results in reallocation of production from older to younger firms and changes the firm size distribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Curtis, E. & Lee, Jonathan M., 2018. "The reallocative and heterogeneous effects of cap-and-trade," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 93-96.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:172:y:2018:i:c:p:93-96
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2018.08.033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John A. List & Daniel L. Millimet & Per G. Fredriksson & W. Warren McHone, 2003. "Effects of Environmental Regulations on Manufacturing Plant Births: Evidence from a Propensity Score Matching Estimator," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 85(4), pages 944-952, November.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Maogang Tang & Ruihan Zhang & Zhen Li & Baijun Wu, 2021. "Assessing the impact of tradable discharge permit on pollution reduction and innovation: micro-evidence from Chinese industrial enterprises," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(11), pages 16911-16933, November.
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    4. Zhang, Guanglai & Zhang, Ning, 2024. "Environmental regulation and worker earnings: Evidence from city-level air quality standards in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    5. Curtis, E. Mark & Lee, Jonathan M., 2019. "When do environmental regulations backfire? Onsite industrial electricity generation, energy efficiency and policy instruments," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 174-194.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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