Timing of adoption of clean technologies, transboundary pollution and international trade

Arbeitspapier

The authors consider a symmetric model composed of two countries and a firm in each country. Firms produce the same good by means of a polluting technology which uses fossil energy. However, these firms can adopt a clean technology which uses a renewable energy having a lower unit cost. Surprisingly, opening markets to international competition increases the per-unit emission-tax and decreases the per-unit production subsidy. Interestingly, the socially optimal adoption date under a common market better internalizes transboundary pollution than that under autarky. It also better internalizes transboundary pollution compared with the optimal adoption dates for firms. In autarky (resp. a common market), firms adopt the clean technology earlier (resp. later) than what is socially optimal and, therefore, regulators can induce clean technology adoption at the socially optimal adoption date by giving firms postpone (resp. speed up) adoption subsidies. Opening markets to international trade, speeds up socially optimal adoption dates and delays optimal adoption dates for firms. Consequently, with market opening, speed up adoption subsidies are needed to reduce the global flow of pollution.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Economics Discussion Papers ; No. 2013-50

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Externalities ; Trade and Environment ; National Government Expenditures and Related Policies: Procurement ; Alternative Energy Sources ; Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
• Subject: regulation ; adoption date ; renewable energy ; transboundary pollution ; common

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Ben Jebli, Mehdi ; Ben Youssef, Slim
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW)
• (where): Kiel
• (when): 2013

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/82649
• Last update: 2025-03-10T11:44:53+0100