Environmental Tax Reforms in Switzerland A Computable General Equilibrium Impact Analysis

Christoph Böhringer and André Müller ()
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André Müller: Ecoplan, Bern, Switzerland

No V-361-14, Working Papers from University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics

Abstract: The Swiss energy strategy until 2050 envisages ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets along with substantial cutbacks in electricity consumption to establish a low-carbon economy without nuclear energy. Our computable general equilibrium analysis find that compliance with stringent CO2 constraints requires high CO2 taxes on economic activities which are not eligible for international emissions trading; likewise, electricity consumers are burdened with substantial electricity taxes. Environmental tax reforms are not likely to generate welfare gains without accounting for the benefits of improved environmental quality . However, economic adjustment costs to a low carbon economy without nuclear energy remain modest and can be markedly reduced through revenue-neutral cuts of initial distortionary taxes. On the other hand, alternative recycling strategies pose a trade-off between efficiency anddistributional justice which has to be resolved on normative grounds.

Keywords: environmental tax reforms; computable general equilibrium (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D58 H21 Q48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 19 pages
Date: 2014-01, Revised 2014-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cmp, nep-ene, nep-env and nep-pub
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published in Oldenburg Working Papers V-361-14

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Journal Article: Environmental Tax Reforms in Switzerland: A Computable General Equilibrium Impact Analysis (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:old:dpaper:361

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