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The effect of fossil energy and other environmental taxes on profit incentives for change in an open economy: Evidence from the UK

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  • Webster, Allan
  • Ayatakshi, Sukanya

Abstract

This paper argues that the underlying supply and demand analysis of fossil energy and other environmental taxes needs further elaboration when a country (a) introduces national fossil energy or environmental taxes and (b) is open to international trade at given world prices. We provide evidence that such conditions are plausible for many sectors in the UK. A key implication is that the short run effects of such taxes should not be felt in final good prices, since these are determined in world markets, but in terms of underlying profitability. These changes in underlying profits provide two key incentives for producers—to change to more environmentally friendly production techniques and to switch resources to production of less environmentally harmful goods. Using input—output techniques we provide evidence for the UK to show how existing fossil energy and other “green” taxes have affected underlying profitability. The evidence shows quite strong profit incentives to shift resources from a small number of energy intensive industries to others.

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  • Webster, Allan & Ayatakshi, Sukanya, 2013. "The effect of fossil energy and other environmental taxes on profit incentives for change in an open economy: Evidence from the UK," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1422-1431.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:61:y:2013:i:c:p:1422-1431
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.05.016
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    4. Genovaitė Liobikienė & Mindaugas Butkus & Kristina Matuzevičiūtė, 2019. "The Contribution of Energy Taxes to Climate Change Policy in the European Union (EU)," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-23, April.

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