Reforming Energy Policy in India: Assessing the Options
52 Pages Posted: 16 Oct 2017
Date Written: May 2017
Abstract
Spreadsheet models are used to assess the environmental, fiscal, economic, and incidence effects of a wide range of options for reducing fossil fuel use in India. Among the most effective options is ramping up the existing coal tax. Annually increasing the tax by INR 150 ($2.25) per ton of coal from 2017 to 2030 avoids over 270,000 air pollution deaths, raises revenue of 1 percent of GDP in 2030, reduces CO2 emissions 12 percent, and generates net economic benefits of approximately 1 percent of GDP. The policy is mildly progressive and (at least initially) imposes a relatively modest cost burden on industries.
Keywords: Energy policy, Excise taxes, Energy prices, Fossil fuels, Greenhouse gas emissions, Pricing reforms, India, Air pollution deaths, Paris targets, welfare effects, incidence, coal tax, energy price reform, Government Policy, Environmental Economics: Government Policy
JEL Classification: Q48, Q54, Q58, H23
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation