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Second Best Environmental Policies under Uncertainty

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  • Fabio Antoniou
  • Panos Hatzipanayotou
  • Phoebe Koundouri

Abstract

We construct a strategic environmental policy model of an international duopoly. Governments use environmental policies, such as an emissions standard or a tax, to control pollution and for rent shifting purposes. Contrary to firms, however, governments are unable to perfectly foresee the actual level of demand and the cost of abatement. Our results suggest that not only the presence but also the absolute level of uncertainty matters for the optimal choice of the environmental policy instrument. Moreover, the optimality conditions under strategic behavior may lead to welfare losses relative to the cooperative outcomes because of under‐regulation and lack of policy coordination between the two countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Antoniou & Panos Hatzipanayotou & Phoebe Koundouri, 2012. "Second Best Environmental Policies under Uncertainty," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 78(3), pages 1019-1040, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:78:y:2012:i:3:p:1019-1040
    DOI: 10.4284/0038-4038-78.3.1019
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    1. Jiunn‐Rong Chiou & Hung‐Yi Chen, 2022. "The Impact of Foreign Ownership on the Choice between Emission Taxes and Emission Standards," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 98(323), pages 392-404, December.
    2. Evangelos V. Dioikitopoulos & Sugata Ghosh & Eugenia Vella, 2016. "Technological Progress, Time Perception and Environmental Sustainability," Working Papers 2016002, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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