Robust Dynamic Energy Use and Climate Change

Date
2015
Authors
Li, Xin
Narajabad, Borghan
Loch-Temzelides, Ted P.
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Abstract

We study a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model in which agents are concerned about model uncertainty regarding climate change. An externality from greenhouse gas emissions damages the economyメs capital stock. We assume that the mapping from climate change to damages is subject to uncertainty, as opposed to risk, and we use robust control theory to study efficiency and optimal policy. We obtain a sharp analytical solution for the implied environmental externality and characterize dynamic optimal taxation. The optimal tax that restores the socially optimal allocation is Pigouvian. We study optimal output growth in the presence and in the absence of concerns about model uncertainty and find that these can lead to substantially different conclusions regarding the optimal emissions and the optimal mix of fossil fuel.

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Keywords
robustness, climate change, model uncertainty, dynamic taxation
Citation

Li, Xin, Narajabad, Borghan and Loch-Temzelides, Ted P.. "Robust Dynamic Energy Use and Climate Change." (2015) James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy: http://bakerinstitute.org/research/robust-dynamic-energy-use-and-climate-change/.

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