Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/238294 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
IRENE Working Paper No. 20-11
Publisher: 
University of Neuchâtel, Institute of Economic Research (IRENE), Neuchâtel
Abstract: 
This paper investigates public opinion on the Swiss CO2 levy and its 2020 revision by using a discrete choice experiment answered by a sample of 586 respondents living in Switzerland. The experiment is designed to elicit citizen preferences among various taxation attributes and is followed by a referendum voting experiment on various CO2 levy proposals. Based on latent class modeling approaches, we find that the population is composed by two distinct but relatively preference profiles: Environmentalists and Neutrals. Respondents belonging to the first group tend to favor higher carbon tax rates and a redistribution of proceeds benefiting low-income individuals, whereas those in the second group prefer lower rates and a uniform redistribution of proceeds across all taxpayers. Findings from the voting experiment point to a general support among the Environmentalists, but an uncertain approval from the Neutral group.
Subjects: 
Carbon tax
preference heterogeneity
public opinion
latent class
discrete choice experiment
JEL: 
C25
D72
D78
H23
Q48
Q54
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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