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Climate change mitigation policies : Are R&D subsidies preferable to a carbon tax ?

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  • André Grimaud
  • Gilles Lafforgue

Abstract

We consider a general equilibrium climate change model with two endogenous R&Dsectors. First, we characterize the set of decentralized equilibria : to each vector of publictools ? a carbon tax and a subsidy to each R&D sector ? is associated a particularequilibrium. Second, we compute the optimal tools. Third, we perform various second-best analysis by imposing some constraints on one or several policy. The main resultsof the paper are the following : i) both a carbon tax and a green research subsidycontribute to the climate change mitigation ; ii) R&D subsidies have a large impact onthe consumption, and then on the social welfare, as compared with the carbon tax usedalone ; iii) those subsidies allow to spare the earlier generations who are, on the otherhand, penalized by a carbon tax.

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  • André Grimaud & Gilles Lafforgue, 2008. "Climate change mitigation policies : Are R&D subsidies preferable to a carbon tax ?," Revue d'économie politique, Dalloz, vol. 118(6), pages 915-940.
    • Handle: RePEc:cai:repdal:redp_186_0915
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    Cited by:

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    2. Pitelis, Alkis & Vasilakos, Nicholas & Chalvatzis, Konstantinos, 2020. "Fostering innovation in renewable energy technologies: Choice of policy instruments and effectiveness," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1163-1172.
    3. Macdonald, Kevin & Patrinos, Harry Anthony, 2021. "Education Quality, Green Technology, and the Economic Impact of Carbon Pricing," IZA Discussion Papers 14792, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Adrien Vogt-Schilb & Guy Meunier & Hallegatte Stéphane, 2013. "Should marginal abatement costs differ across sectors? The effect of low-carbon capital accumulation," Post-Print hal-00829420, HAL.
    5. Grimaud, André & Lafforgue, Gilles & Magné, Bertrand, 2011. "Climate change mitigation options and directed technical change: A decentralized equilibrium analysis," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 938-962.
    6. Adrien Vogt-Shilb & Guy Meunier & Stephane Hallegate, 2013. "Should marginal abatement costs differ across sectors? The effect of low-carbon capital accumulation," Working Papers hal-02805382, HAL.
    7. Rozenberg, Julie & Vogt-Schilb, Adrien & Hallegatte, Stephane, 2020. "Instrument choice and stranded assets in the transition to clean capital," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).

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