The Intended and Unintended Consequences of Taxing Waste

Arbeitspapier

This paper investigates the economic and environmental effects of pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) waste programs. Using a newly constructed longitudinal dataset of Italian municipalities and a staked-by-event design, we obtain three main findings: (i) PAYT programs significantly reduce total waste production; (ii) they further decrease waste management costs and leave municipal finances unaffected; (iii) they generate positive spillover effects on pro-environmental behaviors not directly targeted by the program. Survey evidence suggests that PAYT increases environmental awareness and concerns of the population in treated municipalities.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CESifo Working Paper ; No. 9946

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Single Equation Models; Single Variables: Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions ; Taxation and Subsidies: Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies ; Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
• Subject: waste management ; taxation ; difference-in-differences ; variation in treatment timing

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Colussi, Tommaso ; Romagnoli, Matteo ; Villar, Elena
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)
• (where): Munich
• (when): 2022

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/265981
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET