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Understanding the dynamics of clean technology: implications for policy and industry

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  • Jason M. Walter

    (University of Wisconsin-Stout)

Abstract

Using an optimal control approach, I examine the effectiveness of various strategies for firms to investing in clean technology when faced with an emissions tax in a duopolistic market. Explicitly allowing for the cumulative nature of R&D, I show that emissions per unit of output are lowest when the firms cooperate in R&D, as compared to the scenarios when they compete in R&D or merge into a single entity. It is shown that R&D cooperation leads to the highest level of social welfare among the three alternative scenarios, and that a profit maximizing firm will never choose the most environmentally conscience investment strategy. In contrast to the traditional static analysis, which ignores the temporal effects associated with R&D, my dynamic analysis has implications for emission tax policy and environmental innovation to improve overall welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason M. Walter, 2018. "Understanding the dynamics of clean technology: implications for policy and industry," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 20(2), pages 365-386, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envpol:v:20:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s10018-017-0197-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10018-017-0197-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Walter, Jason M., 2020. "Comparing the effectiveness of market-based and choice-based environmental policy," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 173-191.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dynamic investment; Clean technology; Emission taxation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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