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The Effect of Carbon Pricing on Firm Emissions: Evidence from the Swedish CO2 Tax

Author

Listed:
  • Gustav Martinsson
  • László Sajtos
  • Per Strömberg
  • Christian Thomann

Abstract

Sweden was one of the first countries to introduce a carbon tax back in 1991. We assemble a unique data set tracking CO2 emissions from Swedish manufacturing firms over 26 years to estimate the impact of carbon pricing on firm-level emission intensities. We estimate an emission-to-pricing elasticity of around two, with substantial heterogeneity across subsectors and firms, where higher abatement costs and tighter financial constraints are associated with lower elasticities. A simple calibration suggests that 2015 CO2 emissions from Swedish manufacturing would have been roughly 30% higher without carbon pricing.

Suggested Citation

  • Gustav Martinsson & László Sajtos & Per Strömberg & Christian Thomann, 2024. "The Effect of Carbon Pricing on Firm Emissions: Evidence from the Swedish CO2 Tax," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 37(6), pages 1848-1886.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:37:y:2024:i:6:p:1848-1886.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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