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Environmental Policy in General Equilibrium: New Insights from a Canonical Model

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  • Cloé Garnache
  • Pierre Mérel

Abstract

This paper derives the incidence of a pollution tax in a stylized general equilibrium framework, building on previous work by Fullerton and Heutel (2007a). Using the CPI as numeraire, we show that tax incidence is a simpler problem than previously thought, and that general insights can be derived without the need to restrict the parameter space. In addition, the counterintuitive possibility that an increase in the tax could increase the pollution level vanishes. The choice of the CPI as numeraire is further justified by the fact that environmental taxes, notably carbon taxes, are typically indexed on inflation.

Suggested Citation

  • Cloé Garnache & Pierre Mérel, 2020. "Environmental Policy in General Equilibrium: New Insights from a Canonical Model," CESifo Working Paper Series 8354, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_8354
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Fullerton Don & Heutel Garth, 2011. "Analytical General Equilibrium Effects of Energy Policy on Output and Factor Prices," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 10(2), pages 1-26, January.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bengt Kriström & Klarizze anne Puzon, 2023. "Time vs. money metrics for contingent valuation surveys: Theory and correlations from data on two marine ecosystems Theory and correlations from data on two marine ecosystems," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 43(2), pages 700-718.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    tax incidence; general equilibrium; relative prices; numeraire;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence

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