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Fiscal policy and ecological sustainability: a post-Keynesian perspective

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  • Dafermos, Yannis
  • Nikolaidi, Maria

Abstract

Fiscal policy has a strong role to play in the transition to an ecologically sustainable economy. This contribution critically discusses the way that green fiscal policy has been analysed in both conventional and post-Keynesian approaches. It then uses a recently developed post-Keynesian ecological macroeconomic model in order to provide a comparative evaluation of three different types of green fiscal policy: carbon taxes, green subsidies and green public investment. We show that (i) carbon taxes reduce global warming but increase financial risks due to their adverse effects on the profitability of firms and credit availability; (ii) green subsidies and green public investment improve ecological efficiency, but their positive environmental impact is partially offset by their macroeconomic rebound effects; and (iii) a green fiscal policy mix derives better outcomes than isolated policies. Directions for future heterodox macroeconomic research on the links between fiscal policy and ecological sustainability are suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • Dafermos, Yannis & Nikolaidi, Maria, 2019. "Fiscal policy and ecological sustainability: a post-Keynesian perspective," Greenwich Papers in Political Economy 37777, University of Greenwich, Greenwich Political Economy Research Centre.
    • Handle: RePEc:gpe:wpaper:37777
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    Cited by:

    1. Huang, Bihong & Punzi, Maria Teresa & Wu, Yu, 2022. "Environmental regulation and financial stability: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    2. Dafermos, Yannis & Nikolaidi, Maria, 2021. "How can green differentiated capital requirements affect climate risks? A dynamic macrofinancial analysis," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    3. Malcolm Sawyer, 2020. "The past, present and future of evolutionary macroeconomics," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 37-54, May.
    4. Irene Monasterolo & Nepomuk Dunz & Andrea Mazzocchetti & Régis Gourdel, 2022. "Derisking the low-carbon transition: investors’ reaction to climate policies, decarbonization and distributive effects," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 31-71, April.
    5. Hadji-Lazaro, Paul, 2025. "Environmental responsibility and exposure of finance: Combining environmentally-extended input-output and balance sheet approaches," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    6. Dunz, Nepomuk & Naqvi, Asjad & Monasterolo, Irene, 2021. "Climate sentiments, transition risk, and financial stability in a stock-flow consistent model," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    7. Paul Calanter & Andreea-Emanuela Drăgoi & Mihaela Gramaticu & Alina Dumitrescu & Mariana Taranu & Nicoleta Gudanescu & Aluculesei Alina-Cerasela, 2025. "Circular Economy and Job Creation: A Comparative Approach in an Emerging European Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-21, March.
    8. Francesco Lamperti & Andrea Roventini, 2022. "Beyond climate economics orthodoxy: impacts and policies in the agent-based integrated-assessment DSK model," European Journal of Economics and Economic Policies: Intervention, Edward Elgar Publishing, vol. 19(3), pages 357-380, December.
    9. Puxin Liu, 2023. "An assessment of financial mechanisms for green financial recovery and climate change mitigation: the case of China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1567-1584, June.
    10. Yinqiao Li, 2023. "Role of banking sector in green economic growth: empirical evidence from South Asian economies," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2437-2454, August.
    11. Sheng, Pengfei & Liu, Weiliang, 2024. "Does the government's green commitment matter for energy conservation in China? The role of public spending," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1061-1073.
    12. Gregor Semieniuk & Emanuele Campiglio & Jean‐Francois Mercure & Ulrich Volz & Neil R. Edwards, 2021. "Low‐carbon transition risks for finance," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(1), January.

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    JEL classification:

    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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