Optimal CO2-abatement with Socio-economic Inertia and Induced Technological Change

Malte Schwoon and Richard Tol

The Energy Journal, 2006, vol. Volume 27, issue Number 4, 25-60

Abstract: The impact of induced technological change (ITC) in energy/climate models on the timing of optimal CO2-abatement depends on whether R&D or learning-by-doing (LBD) is the driving force. Bottom-up energy system models employing LBD suggest strong increases in optimal early abatement. In this paper we extend an existing top-down model supporting this view according to the notion that socio-economic inertia interferes with rapid technological change. We derive analytical results concerning the impact of inertia and ITC on optimal initial abatement and show a wide range of numerical simulations to illustrate magnitudes. Inertia now dominates the timing decision on early abatement, such that LBD might even have a negative effect on early abatement and the impact of R&D is limited. However, ITC still reduces costs of stabilizing atmospheric CO2-concentrations considerably.

JEL-codes: F0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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Journal Article: Optimal CO2-abatement with Socio-economic Inertia and Induced Technological Change (2006)
Working Paper: Optimal CO2-abatement with socio-economic inertia and induced technological change (2004)
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