Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/170719 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
cege Discussion Papers No. 319
Version Description: 
October 2017
Publisher: 
University of Göttingen, Center for European, Governance and Economic Development Research (cege), Göttingen
Abstract: 
In this paper I propose a time-consistent method of discounting hyperbolically and apply it to three canonical environmental problems: (i) optimal renewable resource use, (ii) the tragedy of the commons, (iii) economic growth and pollution. I then compare results with those for conventional exponential discounting using the normalization that both methods provide the same present value of an infinite constant flow. I show that, irrespective of potentially high initial discount rates, time-consistent hyperbolic discounting leads always to a steady state of maximum yield, or, if the environment enters the utility function, a steady state where the Green Golden Rule applies. While (asymptotic) extinction is a real threat under exponential discounting it is impossible under time-consistent hyperbolic discounting. This result is also confirmed for open access resources. In a model of economic growth and pollution, hyperbolic discounting establishes the Golden Rule of capital accumulation and the Modified Green Golden Rule.
Subjects: 
discounting
time-consistency
renewable resource use
property rights
growth
pollution
JEL: 
D60
D90
Q20
Q50
Q58
O40
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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