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Strategic effects of stock pollution: the positive theory of fiscal deficits revisited

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  • Maximilian Kellner

    (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change)

Abstract

This article introduces a dynamic political-economy model of public debt which integrates climate policy. Strategic incentives are shaped by both an emission interaction and a budget interaction if public good provision contributes to a stock of persistent pollution. In a bipartisan system, politicians, who disagree on the optimal internalization of pollution, compete for office. The central finding is that bequeathing a large stock of pollution to the future government is not optimal for any incumbent regardless of their environmental preferences. This leads to strategic emission abatement in the first period. Additionally, while the incumbent engages in strategic deficit spending when reelection is uncertain, this effect is no longer necessarily inefficient when accounting for stock pollution. Both effects may increase welfare as a direct result of reelection uncertainty.

Suggested Citation

  • Maximilian Kellner, 2023. "Strategic effects of stock pollution: the positive theory of fiscal deficits revisited," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 194(1), pages 157-179, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:194:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11127-022-01022-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-022-01022-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Maximilian Kellner & Marco Runkel, 2024. "Climate policy and optimal public debt," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 31(6), pages 1584-1610, December.
    2. Hai Xie & Weikun Zhang & Hanyuan Liang, 2023. "Can Local Government Debt Decrease the Pollution Emission of Enterprises?—Evidence from China’s Industrial Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Emission externality; Public debt; Political economy; Strategic interactions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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