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Earmarking of pollution charges and the sub-optimality of the Pigouvian tax

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  • Jiang, Tingsong

Abstract

One approach to internalising a negative externality of economic activity is to impose a Pigouvian tax equal to the marginal cost of the externality. However, this approach overlooks the possibility that the tax revenue can be earmarked to correct the externality directly, i.e. financing the environmental protection projects. It is found that a pure Pigouvian tax is usually not an optimal policy. This issue is examined in both partial and general equilibrium, static and dynamic settings. Certain conditions for justifying a pure Pigouvian tax or a fully earmarked tax scheme are developed.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiang, Tingsong, 2001. "Earmarking of pollution charges and the sub-optimality of the Pigouvian tax," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 45(4), pages 1-18.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aareaj:117732
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.117732
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    Cited by:

    1. Werner Hediger & Bernard Lehmann, 2007. "Multifunctional Agriculture and the Preservation of Environmental Benefits," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 143(IV), pages 449-470, December.
    2. Wang, Mingxi & Hu, Yi & Wang, Shouyang & Dang, Chuangyin, 2023. "The optimal carbon tax mechanism for managing carbon emissions," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PB).
    3. Neva Novarro, 2004. "Do Policy-Makers Earmark to Constrain their Successors? The Case of Environmental Earmarking," Working Papers 0408, College of the Holy Cross, Department of Economics.

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