Robust Control in Global Warming Management: An Analytical Dynamic Integrated Assessment

Magnus Hennlock (magnus.hennlock@economics.gu.se)
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Magnus Hennlock: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University, Postal: Box 640, SE 40530 GÖTEBORG

No 354, Working Papers in Economics from University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics

Abstract: Knightian uncertainty in climate sensitivity is analyzed in a two sectoral integrated assessment model (IAM), based on an extension of DICE. A representative household that expresses ambiguity aversion uses robust control to identify robust climate policy feedback rules that work well over IPCC climate-sensitivity uncertainty range [1]. Ambiguity aversion, together with linear damage, increases carbon cost in a similar way as a low pure rate of time preference. Secondly, in combination with non-linear damage it makes policy responsive to changes in climate data observations as it makes the household concerned about misreading sudden increases in carbon concentration rate and temperature as sources to global warming. Perfect ambiguity aversion results in an infinite expected shadow carbon cost and a zero carbon-intensive consumption path. Dynamic programming identifies an analytically tractable solution to the model.

Keywords: robust control; climate change policy; carbon cost; Knightian uncertainty; ambiguity aversion; integrated assessment models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C61 C73 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2009-04-17
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env and nep-res
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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