The Effects of Vintage-Differentiated Environmental Regulation

Robert Stavins

No 10796, Discussion Papers from Resources for the Future

Abstract: Vintage-differentiated regulations (VDRs) are standards that are fixed with respect to the date of entry of regulated units, with later vintages facing more stringent standards. VDRs play prominent roles under major Federal, state, and local environmental laws. This paper synthesizes what is known about the effects of environmental VDRs, and develops lessons for public policy and for research. Economic theory suggests that such age-discriminatory regulations retard turnover of the capital stock, drive up the cost of environmental protection, and can increase pollution levels. Empirical studies validate theoretical predictions that VDRs delay replacement of durable goods, and thereby increase aggregate pollution abatement costs. In some cases, empirical studies also validate the perverse consequence that environmental progress is itself retarded.

Keywords: Environmental; Economics; and; Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 23
Date: 2005
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Effects of Vintage-Differentiated Environmental Regulation (2005)
Working Paper: The Effects of Vintage-Differentiated Environmental Regulation (2005)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:rffdps:10796

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.10796

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