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Facing the Climate Change Challenge in a Global Economy

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  • Lee G. Branstetter
  • William A. Pizer

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the international community has struggled to deal constructively with the problem of mitigating climate change. This is considered by many to be the preeminent public policy challenge of our time, but actual policy responses have been relatively modest. This essay provides an abbreviated narrative history of international policy in this domain, with a special emphasis on aspects of the problem, proposed solutions, and unresolved issues that are of interest to international economists and informed observers of the global economic system. We also discuss the potential conflict that could emerge between free trade principles on the one hand and environmental policy objectives on the other.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee G. Branstetter & William A. Pizer, 2012. "Facing the Climate Change Challenge in a Global Economy," NBER Working Papers 18214, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:18214
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    Cited by:

    1. Larch, Mario & Löning, Markus & Wanner, Joschka, 2018. "Can degrowth overcome the leakage problem of unilateral climate policy?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 118-130.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • F55 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Institutional Arrangements
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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