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Market-based Emissions Regulation and Industry Dynamics

Market-based Emissions Regulation and Industry Dynamics

Full Title:  Market-based Emissions Regulation and Industry Dynamics
Author(s):   Meredith Fowlie, Mar Reguant, and Stephen P. Ryan
Publisher(s):  Georgetown Climate Center
Publication Date: August 1, 2012
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):

We assess the long-run dynamic implications of market-based regulation of carbon dioxide emissions in the US Portland cement industry. We consider several alternative permit allocation schemes, including mechanisms that use production subsidies to partially offset compliance costs and border tax adjustments to penalize emissions associated with foreign imports. Our results highlight two general countervailing market distortions. First, following Buchanan (1969), reductions in product market surplus and allocative inefficiencies due to market power in the domestic cement market counteract the social benefits of carbon abatement. Second, trade-exposure to unregulated foreign competitors leads to emissions “leakage” which offsets domestic emissions reductions. Taken together, these forces can result in social welfare losses under policy regimes that fully internalize the emissions externality. In contrast, market-based policies that incorporate design features that mitigate the exercise of market power and emis- sions leakage can deliver significant welfare gains.

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