Hardback
Environmental Tax Reform and the Labour Market
The Double Dividend in Different Labour Market Regimes
9781843761327 Edward Elgar Publishing
During the past decade the issue of a general welfare double dividend (an improvement in environmental quality combined with a positive welfare effect) triggered by a tax shift from labour to energy resources has been extensively debated. In this book, Kurt Kratena studies the employment effects of revenue neutral tax shifts from labour to energy, and measures the impact on theoretical and empirical models of the European labour market.
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Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
During the past decade the issue of a general welfare double dividend (an improvement in environmental quality combined with a positive welfare effect) triggered by a tax shift from labour to energy resources has been extensively debated. In this book, Kurt Kratena studies the employment effects of revenue neutral tax shifts from labour to energy, and measures the impact on theoretical and empirical models of the European labour market.
A common theoretical framework is devised to analyse the impact of environmental tax reform. Various ‘labour market regimes’ (competitive labour markets, union wage bargaining and efficiency wages) are derived and taken as the starting point for different specifications of the labour market. The theoretical outcomes of tax shifts in these different labour market regimes are then analysed and compared. The results reveal that whereas an econometric based multi-sectoral model yields significant double dividend effects, a general equilibrium model only finds employment double dividend effects. The book also highlights the potentially positive economic consequences of environmental tax reform such as a shift in demand from energy to non-energy goods.
This book provides a concise appraisal of the general double dividend question combined with an innovative analysis of the employment double dividend effect. It utilises extensive empirical evidence and reveals the sensitivity of the various theoretical concepts surrounding the debate. This book will be of interest and relevance to academics in the fields of environmental economics, labour theory and fiscal studies.
A common theoretical framework is devised to analyse the impact of environmental tax reform. Various ‘labour market regimes’ (competitive labour markets, union wage bargaining and efficiency wages) are derived and taken as the starting point for different specifications of the labour market. The theoretical outcomes of tax shifts in these different labour market regimes are then analysed and compared. The results reveal that whereas an econometric based multi-sectoral model yields significant double dividend effects, a general equilibrium model only finds employment double dividend effects. The book also highlights the potentially positive economic consequences of environmental tax reform such as a shift in demand from energy to non-energy goods.
This book provides a concise appraisal of the general double dividend question combined with an innovative analysis of the employment double dividend effect. It utilises extensive empirical evidence and reveals the sensitivity of the various theoretical concepts surrounding the debate. This book will be of interest and relevance to academics in the fields of environmental economics, labour theory and fiscal studies.
Critical Acclaim
‘This is an excellent study which is to-the-point, well-argued and topical. The book addresses important issues for fiscal policy and mitigation of climate change, and complements other studies in the area, in that it emphasises the importance of assumptions about the workings of the labour market. This is a significant contribution to the literature.’
– Terry Barker, University of Cambridge, UK
‘This book relates to two lines of current research on environmental taxation: the renewed interest in environmental tax reform stimulated by the issue of sustainable development and the recently discovered link to employment policy and its relationship to different labour market regimes. As such, it is a very useful source for judging the arguments that have evolved over the past decade in the context of environmental tax reform. Because of the comprehensive approach that emphasises different theoretical perspectives and the importance of empirical modelling work, the book is a valuable contribution to the double dividend debate. Of particular value is the excellent presentation of the role of different labour market regimes which contains substantial innovative material.’
– Stefan P. Schleicher, University of Graz, Austria
– Terry Barker, University of Cambridge, UK
‘This book relates to two lines of current research on environmental taxation: the renewed interest in environmental tax reform stimulated by the issue of sustainable development and the recently discovered link to employment policy and its relationship to different labour market regimes. As such, it is a very useful source for judging the arguments that have evolved over the past decade in the context of environmental tax reform. Because of the comprehensive approach that emphasises different theoretical perspectives and the importance of empirical modelling work, the book is a valuable contribution to the double dividend debate. Of particular value is the excellent presentation of the role of different labour market regimes which contains substantial innovative material.’
– Stefan P. Schleicher, University of Graz, Austria
Contents
Contents: Introduction 1. General Aspects of Environmental Tax Reform 2. Theoretical Assessment of Different Labour Market Regimes 3. Environmental Tax Reform in Different Labour Market Regimes: Theory 4. Environmental Tax Reform in Different Labour Market Regimes: Applications 5. Conclusions References Index
