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Designing carbon markets, part I: carbon markets in time

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  • Fankhauser, Samuel
  • Hepburn, Cameron

Abstract

This paper analyses the design of carbon markets in time (i.e., intertemporally). It is part of a twin set of papers that ask, starting from first principles, what an optimal global carbon market would look like by around 2030. Our focus is on firm-level cap-and-trade systems, although much of what we say would also apply to government-level trading and carbon offset schemes. We examine the "first principles" of temporal design that would help to maximise flexibility and to minimise costs, including banking and borrowing and other mechanisms to provide greater carbon price predictability and credibility over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Fankhauser, Samuel & Hepburn, Cameron, 2010. "Designing carbon markets, part I: carbon markets in time," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 28832, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:28832
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    climate policy; uncertainty; emissions; prices; quantities; ISI;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N0 - Economic History - - General
    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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