Looking Back at 50 Years of the Clean Air Act

Joseph Aldy, Maximilian Auffhammer, Maureen Cropper, Arthur Fraas and Richard Morgenstern ()

No 26687, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We synthesize and review retrospective analyses of federal air quality regulations to examine the contributions of the Clean Air Act to the vast air quality improvements seen since 1970. Geographic heterogeneity in stringency affects emissions, public health, compliance costs, and employment. Cap-and-trade has delivered greater emission reductions at lower cost than conventional mandates, yet has fallen short of textbook ideals. Market power also influenced the CAA’s benefits and costs. New benefit categories have been identified ex post, but specific technology requirements have not yet been rigorously evaluated. Comparisons of aggregate benefits and costs of the CAA are beyond present capabilities.

JEL-codes: Q53 Q54 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env and nep-hea
Note: EEE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published as Joseph E. Aldy & Maximilian Auffhammer & Maureen Cropper & Arthur Fraas & Richard Morgenstern, 2022. "Looking Back at 50 Years of the Clean Air Act," Journal of Economic Literature, vol 60(1), pages 179-232.

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