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Environmental Policy on the Back of an Envelope: A Cobb-Douglas Model is Not Just a Teaching Tool

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  • Don Fullerton
  • Chi L. Ta

Abstract

To clarify and interpret the workings of a large computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of environmental policy in the U.S., we build an aggregated Cobb-Douglas (CD) model that can be solved easily and analytically. Its closed-form expressions show exactly how key parameters determine the sign and size of effects from a large new carbon tax on emissions, revenue, prices, output, and welfare. Data and parameters from the detailed, dynamic CGE model of Goulder and Hafstead (2018) are used in the CD model to calculate results that can be compared with theirs. Results from the CD model track those from the large CGE model quite closely, even though the CD model omits much detail such as the number of sectors, intermediate inputs, and international trade. A CGE model is quite useful to generate detailed numerical results and to reflect on particular aspects of environmental policy, but the simpler CD model provides a transparent view of exactly how the policy affects key outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Don Fullerton & Chi L. Ta, 2019. "Environmental Policy on the Back of an Envelope: A Cobb-Douglas Model is Not Just a Teaching Tool," NBER Working Papers 25582, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25582
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    8. Zirogiannis, Nikolaos & Simon, Daniel H. & Hollingsworth, Alex J., 2020. "Estimating co-pollutant benefits from climate change policies in the electricity sector: A regression approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • Q28 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Government Policy
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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