Stable International Environmental Agreements: An Analytical Approach

In this paper we examine the formation of International Environmental Agreements (IEAs). We provide an analytical treatment of the main model used in the literature and offer a formal solution of it (which has not been available so far), while we clarify some misconceptions that exist in the literature. We find that the unique stable IEA consist of either two, three or four signatories if the number of countries is greater than or equal to 5. Furthermore, we show that the welfare of the signatories of a stable IEA is very close to its lowest level vs the welfare of signatories of other non-stable IEAs. While in our model countries' choice variable is emissions, we extend our results to the case where the choice variable is abatement efforts.International Environmental Agreements, Coalition Formation

Optimal Exploitation of Groundwater and the Potential for a Tradable Permit System in Irrigated Agriculture

A great challenge facing future agricultural water policy is to explore the potential for transition from the current myopic competitive (common) exploitation of groundwater resources to a long-term efficient and sustainable allocation. A number of economic and/or command and control instruments can be used by the relevant water authority in order to deal with the economic and environmental problems generated by competitive exploitation. However, according to previous experience in both developed and developing countries, tradable permits seem as one of the most effective and efficient instruments, especially under conditions of limited water availability. On this account, the aim of the current study is to explore the feasibility and implementation of a tradable permit system in irrigated agriculture. To this end, two distinct optimization models are applied and compared: (a) an individual farmer’s model (representing the myopic non-cooperative exploitation of groundwater) and (b) a social planner’s model (representing the cooperative and sustainable allocation). The deviation of their results shows the rationale for using a tradable permit system, while the final allocation of the social planner’s model, solved as an optimal control problem that maximizes the social welfare under specific water policy objectives, denotes the equilibrium state of this system. The two models are then applied in a typical rural area of Greece where groundwater is the only source of irrigated agriculture. The derived time paths for water consumption and water availability illustrate the significant environmental benefits from the future implementation of a tradable permit system.Tradable Water Permits, Sustainable Water Use, Irrigated Agriculture

Stable International Environmental Agreements: An Analytical Approach

In this paper we examine the formation of International Environmental Agreements (IEAs). We show that the welfare of the signatories does not increase monotonically with respect to the number of signatories. We provide an analytical solution of the leadership model. In particular, we find that the unique stable IEA consist of either two, three or four signatories if the number of countries is greater than 4. Furthermore, we show that the welfare of the signatories is almost at its lowest level when the IEA is stable. While in our model countries’ choice variable is emissions, we extend our results to the case where the choice variable is abatement efforts.

Uncertainty and the Double Dividend Hypothesis

This paper examines the double dividend hypothesis in the presence of labour income uncertainty. Empirical evidence shows that uncertainty over labour income is particularly significant in developing, while not negligible in developed countries. Under uncertainty, and assuming incomplete capital markets, the tax system plays a role in providing social insurance and a green tax reform influences its effectiveness. We show that the increase in environmental tax reduces consumption risk while the balanced budget decrease in labour income tax increases income risk. We find that the total welfare effect of a green tax reform differs substantially from the case of certainty. The critical parameters determining the existence of a second dividend are the lump sum transfers, the relative substitutability of the two goods for leisure and the initial tax rates relative to their optimal that determine also the response of labour supply to a change in the tax mix.Double Dividend Hypothesis, Environmental Taxation, Labor Income Taxation, Uncertainty, Tax Incidence Analysis

Permis d’émission négociables et réglementation dans des marchés de concurrence imparfaite

Cette étude présente un duopole de Cournot soumis à une réglementation environnementale. Deux types d’approche sont étudiés : l’approche « ordre et contrôle » et les permis d’émission négociables. L’analyse démontre qu’un système de permis d’émission négociables est plus efficace que l’approche « ordre et contrôle » quand le marché des permis est concurrentiel, mais qu’il est moins efficace quand une des entreprises est capable de fixer le prix dans le marché des permis. Dans un duopole à la Cournot, l’entreprise capable de fixer le prix des permis cherche à faire augmenter les coûts de son concurrent afin d’augmenter sa part du marché des produits. Dans un système de permis d’émission négociables, l’État peut initialement vendre les permis aux enchères ou les distribuer sans frais (grandfathering). Il est démontré que lorsque le marché des permis est concurrentiel, les deux systèmes d’allocation initiale des permis sont efficaces, tandis que lorsqu’il y a pouvoir de marché, la vente aux enchères est plus efficace que la distribution gratuite des permis.This paper develops a model of a homogeneous Cournot duopoly subject to environmental regulation. Two systems of regulation are examined. A source-specific system (command and control) and a market-based system (tradeable emission permits). It is shown that tradeable emission permits are more efficient than command and control when the permit market is competitive but that it is less efficient when one of the duopolists is a price setter in the permit market. Under Cournot conjectures, the price setter in the permits market seeks to raise its rival's costs in order to increase its market share. Under a tradeable emission permits system, the government can either initially auction the permits or distribute them free of charge (grandfathering). It is shown that with a competitive permit market, both types of initial allocation are efficient. However, with a price setter in the permit market, auctioning is more efficient than grandfathering

The Role of Information Provision as a Policy Instrument to Supplement Environmental Taxes: Empowering Consumers to Choose Optimally

The present paper examines, within a dynamic framework, the use of information provision as a policy instrument to supplement environmental taxation. We assume that at least a fraction of consumers do not posses the required information to make the optimal choices, and that their behavior at each time period depends on the accumulated stock of information. We show that, as the accumulated stock of information provision increases, both the optimal level of information provided at each period of time and the optimal tax rate decline over time. Our results provide strong evidence in support of information campaigns as a policy instrument to supplement traditional environmental policies. Information provision can shift the demand towards environmentally friendly products over time and thus, reduce the required level of the tax rate.Information Provision, Environmental Taxation

Corruption and Environmental Policy: An Alternative Perspective

We construct an overlapping generations model in which agents live through two periods; childhood and adulthood. Each agent makes choices only as an adult, based on her utility that depends on her own consumption and the human capital and environmental quality endowed to her offspring. Entering adulthood, agents choose randomly between two occupations: citizens and politicians. Citizens are the only producers of a single good and choose the proportion of their income to declare to the tax authorities. Politicians decide upon the allocation of the tax revenue between environmental protection and education activities, taking as given the rates of peculation in each activity. In this context, two self-fulfilling stable equilibria can emerge, one associated with high and another with low corruption. Corrupted politicians induce high levels of tax evasion, reducing total public funds and thus environmental protection activities. This result is in accordance with existing empirical evidence and implies that environmental policies may fail in corrupt countries where they are used as means of supporting rent seeking activities instead of protecting the environment. A higher level political authority could intervene and force the low corruption equilibrium by choosing the appropriate tax rate and, through institutional changes, the rates of peculation.Corruption, Environmental Policy

The role of information provision as a policy instrument to supplement environmental taxes: Empowering consumers to choose optimally

This paper examines, within a dynamic framework, the role of information provision as a policy instrument to supplement environmental taxation. Several products are responsible for long term health problems as well as environmental damages. Many consumers do not possess the required information to optimally substitute away from these products. However, as the stock of information regarding the negative effects of these products builds up, an increasing fraction of consumers behaves optimally. The government uses two policy instruments, environmental taxation and information provision. We show that as the accumulated stock of information increases, the optimal tax rate declines over time. Information provision can shift market demand towards environmentally friendly goods over time, and thus reduce the required level of the tax rate. Our results provide strong evidence in support of information campaigns as a policy instrument to supplement traditional environmental policies.