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The Role of Technology and Energy Substitution in Climate Change Mitigation

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Abstract

Mitigating climate change is critically linked to reducing an economy’s reliance on fossil energy. This paper examines U.S. energy dependence, measured by its factor share, using a neoclassical framework in a systematic way. We propose substitution as a simple, explicit economic mechanism for climate change mitigation and understanding energy-saving technical change in terms of observed factor quantities. We show that with time-varying capital equipment and energy substitutability, changes in observed inputs alone can account for most of the variations in the income share of energy over the last 60 years. Advancing the accessibility and quality of capital equipment as well as integrating the dynamic substitutability between energy and capital equipment into the design of climate policies can help economies adapt and achieve environmental policy goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Nida Çakır Melek & Musa Orak, 2023. "The Role of Technology and Energy Substitution in Climate Change Mitigation," Research Working Paper RWP 23-15, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedkrw:97654
    DOI: 10.18651/RWP2023-15
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Hassler & Per Krusell & Conny Olovsson, 2021. "Directed Technical Change as a Response to Natural Resource Scarcity," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(11), pages 3039-3072.
    2. David Domeij & Lars Ljungqvist, 2019. "Public Sector Employment and the Skill Premium: Sweden versus the United States 1970–2012," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 121(1), pages 3-31, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    elasticity of substitution; energy; climate change; technological change; Capital-skill complementarity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E13 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Neoclassical
    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production
    • E25 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Aggregate Factor Income Distribution
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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