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Fees and the Efficiency of Tradable Permit Systems: An Experimental Approach

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  • Fridrik Baldursson
  • Jon Sturluson

Abstract

The paper presents the results of an economic experiment in which the effects of fees on allocative efficiency of tradable utilization permits (e.g. pollution permits) are explored. Laboratory subjects (university students) play the roles of firms whose generic product requires a specific input or permits. Scarcity is exogenously introduced by a fixed supply of tradable production permits. Three treatments are compared: A) no fee imposed; B) a fixed tax per permit; C) partial retraction of permits which are reissued by auction. We regard B and C as two ways of imposing fees. Our results indicate that, after controlling for deviation of permit prices from a prediction based on fundamentals, fees have an impact on distribution of permits. Interestingly, a fixed tax enhances efficiency compared to the case of no fees, while retraction and reallocation by auction reduces efficiency compared to both alternative treatments. Apparently, subjects’ decision making is affected by the imposition of fees, but it matters how such costs are presented or framed.
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  • Fridrik Baldursson & Jon Sturluson, 2011. "Fees and the Efficiency of Tradable Permit Systems: An Experimental Approach," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 48(1), pages 25-41, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:enreec:v:48:y:2011:i:1:p:25-41
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-010-9395-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Brands, Devi K. & Verhoef, Erik T. & Knockaert, Jasper & Koster, Paul R., 2020. "Tradable permits to manage urban mobility: Market design and experimental implementation," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 34-46.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tradable permits; Taxation; Auctions; Efficiency; Experimental economics; C92; Q22; Q25;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • Q22 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Fishery
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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