Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/63108 
Year of Publication: 
2006
Series/Report no.: 
Memorandum No. 2006,26
Publisher: 
University of Oslo, Department of Economics, Oslo
Abstract: 
This paper addresses the impact of endogenous technology through research and development (R&D) and learning by doing (LbD) on the timing of environmental policy. We develop two models, the first with technological change through R&D and the second with LbD. We study the interaction between environmental taxes and innovation externalities in a dynamic economy and prove policy equivalence between the second-best R&D and the LbD model. Our analysis shows that the difference found in the literature between optimal environmental policy in R&D and LbD models can partly be traced back to the set of policy instruments available, rather than being directly linked to the source of technological innovation. Arguments for early action in LbD models carry over to a second-best R&D setting. We show that environmental taxes should be high compared to the Pigouvian levels when an abatement industry is developing. We illustrate our analysis through numerical simulations on climate change policy.
Subjects: 
Environmental policy
technological change
research and development
learning by doing
JEL: 
H21
O30
Q42
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
311.09 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.