Arbeitspapier

Transition to clean technology

We develop a microeconomic model of endogenous growth where clean and dirty technologies compete in production and innovation–in the sense that research can be directed to either clean or dirty technologies. If dirty technologies are more advanced to start with, the potential transition to clean technology can be difficult both because clean research must climb several rungs to catch up with dirty technology and because this gap discourages research effort directed towards clean technologies. Carbon taxes and research subsidies may nonetheless encourage production and innovation in clean technologies, though the transition will typically be slow. We characterize certain general properties of the transition path from dirty to clean technology. We then estimate the model using a combination of regression analysis on the relationship between R&D and patents, and simulated method of moments using microdata on employment, production, R&D, firm growth, entry and exit from the US energy sector. The model's quantitative implications match a range of moments not targeted in the estimation quite well. We then characterize the optimal policy path implied by the model and our estimates. Optimal policy makes heavy use of research subsidies as well as carbon taxes. We use the model to evaluate the welfare consequences of a range of alternative policies.

ISBN
978-952-323-078-1
Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: Bank of Finland Research Discussion Papers ; No. 26/2015

Classification
Wirtschaft
Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights: General
Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
Miscellaneous Mathematical Tools

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Acemoglu, Daron
Akcigit, Ufuk
Hanley, Douglas
Kerr, William R.
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
Bank of Finland
(where)
Helsinki
(when)
2015

Handle
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Acemoglu, Daron
  • Akcigit, Ufuk
  • Hanley, Douglas
  • Kerr, William R.
  • Bank of Finland

Time of origin

  • 2015

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