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Social safety nets and US climate policy costs

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  • Joshua Blonz
  • Dallas Burtraw
  • Margaret Walls

Abstract

The debate surrounding US climate policy has been strongly influenced by concerns about the impact that placing a price on GHG emissions could have on potentially vulnerable populations, including senior citizens. This article shows that seniors would be one of the best protected groups under the climate policies recently debated in the US Congress. Moreover, low-income groups would also be protected generally under these proposals. This is due to a combination of existing government transfer programmes that automatically adjust benefit payments to account for inflation and provisions in the proposals.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua Blonz & Dallas Burtraw & Margaret Walls, 2012. "Social safety nets and US climate policy costs," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 474-490, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:tcpoxx:v:12:y:2012:i:4:p:474-490
    DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2011.644073
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