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Taxes and Quotas for a Stock Pollutant with Multiplicative Uncertainty

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Hoel

    (University of Oslo, Norway)

  • Larry Karp

    (Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Berkeley, California)

Abstract

We compare taxes and quotas when firms and the regulator have asymmetric information about abatement costs. Damages are caused by a stock pollutant. Uncertainty enters multiplicatively, i.e. it affects the slope rather than the intercept of abatement costs. We calibrate the model using cost and damage estimates of greenhouse gases. As with additive uncertainty, taxes dominate quotas. The advantage of taxes is much greater with mulitiplicative, compared to additive uncertainty.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Hoel & Larry Karp, 1999. "Taxes and Quotas for a Stock Pollutant with Multiplicative Uncertainty," Working Papers 1999.15, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    • Handle: RePEc:fem:femwpa:1999.15
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Pollution control; asymmetric information; taxes and quotas; stochastic control; global warming; multiplicative disturbances;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • Q28 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Government Policy

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