Is There a Green Paradox?

31 Pages Posted: 21 Sep 2010

See all articles by Michael Hoel

Michael Hoel

University of Oslo; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute for Economic Research)

Date Written: September 20, 2010

Abstract

A sufficiently rapidly rising carbon tax may increase near-term emissions compared with the case of no carbon tax. Even so, such a carbon tax path may reduce total costs related to climate change, since the tax may reduce total carbon extraction. A government cannot commit to a specific carbon tax rate in the distant future. For reasonable assumptions about expectation formation, a higher present carbon tax will reduce near-term carbon emissions. Moreover, whatever the expectations about future tax rates are, near-term emissions will decline for a sufficiently high carbon tax. However, if the near-term tax rate for some reason is set below its optimal level, increased concern for the climate may change taxes in a manner that increases near-term emissions.

Keywords: climate change, exhaustible resources, green paradox, carbon tax

JEL Classification: Q31, Q38, Q41, Q48, Q54, Q58

Suggested Citation

Hoel, Michael, Is There a Green Paradox? (September 20, 2010). CESifo Working Paper Series No. 3168, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1679663 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1679663

Michael Hoel (Contact Author)

University of Oslo ( email )

P.O. Box 1095 Blindern
N-0317 Oslo
Norway
+ 47 22 85 83 87 (Phone)
+ 47 22 85 50 35 (Fax)

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute for Economic Research)

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Munich, DE-81679
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.CESifo.de

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