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On the Geographic Implications of Carbon Taxes

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  • Bruno Conte
  • Klaus Desmet
  • Esteban Rossi-Hansberg

Abstract

Using a multisector dynamic spatial integrated assessment model (S-IAM), we argue that a carbon tax introduced by the European Union (EU) and rebated locally can, if not too large, increase the size of Europe’s economy by concentrating economic activity in its high-productivity non-agricultural core and by incentivizing immigration to the EU. The resulting change in the spatial distribution of economic activity improves global efficiency and welfare. A carbon tax introduced by the US generates similar effects. This stands in sharp contrast with standard models that ignore trade and migration in a world shaped by economic geography forces.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Conte & Klaus Desmet & Esteban Rossi-Hansberg, 2024. "On the Geographic Implications of Carbon Taxes," Working Papers 1464, Barcelona School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bge:wpaper:1464
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bruno Conte, 2022. "Climate Change and Migration: The Case of Africa," CESifo Working Paper Series 9948, CESifo.
    2. Juan S. Mora-Sanguinetti & Andrés Atienza-Maeso, 2023. ""Green regulation": a quantification of regulations related to renewable energies and climate change in Spain and France," Working papers 937, Banque de France.
    3. Gustav Martinsson & László Sajtos & Per Strömberg & Christian Thomann, 2024. "The Effect of Carbon Pricing on Firm Emissions: Evidence from the Swedish CO2 Tax," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 37(6), pages 1848-1886.
    4. Bijnens, Gert & Anyfantaki, Sofia & Colciago, Andrea & De Mulder, Jan & Falck, Elisabeth & Labhard, Vincent & Lopez-Garcia, Paloma & Meriküll, Jaanika & Parker, Miles & Röhe, Oke & Schroth, Joachim & , 2024. "The impact of climate change and policies on productivity," Occasional Paper Series 340, European Central Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic geography; climate change; carbon taxes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies

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