Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/23066 
Year of Publication: 
2001
Series/Report no.: 
CSLE Discussion Paper No. 2001-06
Publisher: 
Universität des Saarlandes, Center for the Study of Law and Economics (CSLE), Saarbrücken
Abstract: 
This paper analyzes the incentive effects of pollution taxes versus pollution permits for a revenue maximizing Government that also pursues environmental objectives. In our model, pollution permits are analyzed as durable goods, and the leasing of pollution permits is seen as an equivalent to a pollution tax. We show that environmental policy based on durable pollution permits can be welfare superior to a pollution tax regime. The intuition is that a monopolistic Government would, in order to maximize its revenues, try to restrict the permit sales below the welfare maximizing level. While a pollution tax or leasing charge allows the Government to credibly commit to a monopoly level of pollution in future periods, a system based on durable permits weakens the monopolistic Government?s ability to credibly restrict future sales. Therefore, a pollution tax regime may be better for the environment and simultaneously increase Government revenues, but social welfare is larger with pollution permits. Hence, a regime where the Government cannot commit to monopoly quantities may be preferable from a welfare economic perspective. This argument in favor of durable permits complements more traditional arguments based on information asymmetries and innovation incentives.
Subjects: 
Emissions Permits
Pollution Tax
Time Inconsistency
Durable Goods
JEL: 
H2
K3
D7
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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