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Preferences for climate change-related fiscal policies in European countries: drivers and seasonal effects

Author

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  • Leonardo Becchetti

    (Università di Roma Tor Vergata)

  • Gianluigi Conzo

    (Università di Roma Tor Vergata)

Abstract

We investigate drivers of preferences for policies of climate change mitigation using the European Social Survey. We find that the share of individuals who agree on (bonus/malus) potentially balanced budget policies that tax fossil fuels and subsidize renewable energies is much less than those who agree only on subsidizing renewable energies. Low levels of education and income are significantly and negatively correlated with the probability of being part of the group of tax-and-subsidy advocates. We also find evidence of a strong seasonal effect, with a significantly higher share of support for the tax-and-subsidy policy being present when interviews are conducted during the hottest months of the year. We discuss the implications of our findings in terms of politically feasible climate change policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonardo Becchetti & Gianluigi Conzo, 2022. "Preferences for climate change-related fiscal policies in European countries: drivers and seasonal effects," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 39(3), pages 1083-1113, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:epolit:v:39:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s40888-022-00259-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s40888-022-00259-7
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Climate change preferences; Tax on fossil fuels; Subsidies on renewables;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects

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