Can a Unilateral Carbon Tax Reduce Emissions Elsewhere?

Joshua Elliott and Don Fullerton ()

No 18897, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: One country that tries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions may fear that other countries get a competitive advantage and increase emissions ("leakage"). Estimates from computable general equilibrium (CGE) models such as Elliott et al (2010a,b) indicate that 15% to 25% of abatement might be offset by leakage. Yet the Fullerton et al (2012) analytical general equilibrium model shows an offsetting term with negative leakage. To derive analytical expressions, their model is quite simple, with only one good from each country or sector, a fixed stock of capital, competitive markets, and many identical consumers that purchase both goods. Their model is not intended to be realistic, but only to demonstrate the potential for negative leakage. Most CGE models do not allow for negative leakage. In this paper, we use a full CGE model with many countries and many goods to measure effects in a way that allows for negative leakage. We vary elasticities of substitution and confirm the analytical model's prediction that negative leakage depends on the ability of consumers to substitute into the untaxed good and the ability of firms to substitute from carbon emissions into labor or capital.

JEL-codes: H23 Q56 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cmp, nep-ene, nep-env, nep-pub, nep-reg and nep-res
Note: EEE PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published as Elliott, Joshua & Fullerton, Don, 2014. "Can a unilateral carbon tax reduce emissions elsewhere?," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 6-21.

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Journal Article: Can a unilateral carbon tax reduce emissions elsewhere? (2014)
Working Paper: Can a Unilateral Carbon Tax Reduce Emissions Elsewhere? (2013)
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