Second-Best Renewable Subsidies to De-Carbonize the Economy: Commitment and the Green Paradox

Frederick (Rick) van der Ploeg and Armon Rezai

No 11552, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Climate change must deal with two market failures: global warming and learning by doing in renewable energy production. The first-best policy consists of an aggressive renewables subsidy in the near term and a gradually rising and falling carbon tax. Given that global carbon taxes remain elusive, policy makers might have to rely on a second-best subsidy only. With credible commitment the second-best subsidy is higher than the social benefit of learning to cut the transition time and peak warming close to first-best levels at the cost of higher fossil fuel use in the short run (weak Green Paradox). Without commitment the second-best subsidy is set to the social benefit of learning. It generates smaller weak Green Paradox effects, but the transition to the carbon-free takes longer and cumulative carbon emissions are higher. Under first best and second best with pre-commitment peak warming is 2.1 - 2.3 °C, under second best without commitment 3.5°C, and without any policy 5.1°C above pre-industrial levels. Not being able to commit yields a welfare loss of 95% of initial GDP compared to first best. Being able to commit brings this figure down to 7%.

Keywords: Commitment; Ramsey growth; Carbon tax; Renewables subsidy; Learning by doing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H21 Q51 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env and nep-res
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Second-Best Renewable Subsidies to De-carbonize the Economy: Commitment and the Green Paradox (2017)
Working Paper: Second-Best Renewable Subsidies to De-Carbonize the Economy: Commitment and the Green Paradox (2016)
Working Paper: SECOND-BEST RENEWABLE SUBSIDIES TO DE-CARBONIZE THE ECONOMY: COMMITMENT AND THE GREEN PARADOX (2016)
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