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Optimal tax policy under heterogeneous environmental preferences

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  • Arbex, Marcelo
  • Behringer, Stefan
  • Trudeau, Christian

Abstract

We model an economy of K heterogeneous regions where agents value consumption vs. nature differently. Consumption obtained through pollution-inducing production also generates a negative externality on neighbors. We show that even with a decentralized policy we can obtain first-best efficiency by choosing a combination of pollution taxes in both regions and lump-sum transfers. Moreover, we show that optimal pollution taxes are determined only by the externality parameters, independent of agents’ preferences for consumption and nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Arbex, Marcelo & Behringer, Stefan & Trudeau, Christian, 2017. "Optimal tax policy under heterogeneous environmental preferences," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 79-82.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:157:y:2017:i:c:p:79-82
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2017.05.032
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Externalities; Environmental preferences; Optimal taxation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H87 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - International Fiscal Issues; International Public Goods
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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