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Ship-owner response to carbon taxes: Industry and environmental implications

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  • Cariou, Pierre
  • Halim, Ronald A.
  • Rickard, Bradley J.

Abstract

We consider the effects of a maritime bunker levy on ship-owner profits, trade, and emissions. Standard and augmented gravity models are employed using data from 2016 to estimate the impact of a change in transit time and transit cost on grain and soybean trade flows and on vessel speed. Results for a bunker levy of 50 USD per tonne of fuel, or less, stress that it will not trigger a change in the optimal speed of the vessel which is contrary to most theoretical models that predict an increase in fuel costs will always lead to a reduction in speed and carbon emissions. Bunker levies exceeding 100 USD per tonne may be needed to reduce carbon emissions when trade flows are sensitive to trade costs and transport time, as may be the case for many agricultural commodities.

Suggested Citation

  • Cariou, Pierre & Halim, Ronald A. & Rickard, Bradley J., 2023. "Ship-owner response to carbon taxes: Industry and environmental implications," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:212:y:2023:i:c:s0921800923001805
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.107917
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural trade; Bunker levy; Carbon tax; Environmental policy; Maritime economics; Gravity model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • Q17 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agriculture in International Trade
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise

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