Tax Policy to Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Africa

Noting that South Africa may be one of the few African countries that could contribute to mitigating climate change, the authors explore the impact of a carbon tax relative to alternative energy taxes on economic welfare. Using a disaggregate gener...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Devarajan, Shantayanan, Go, Delfin S., Robinson, Sherman, Thierfelder, Karen
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
AIR
CPI
GNP
OIL
TAX
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20090518093557
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4127
id okr-10986-4127
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ABATEMENT
ABATEMENT COST
ADVERSE EFFECTS
AIR
AIR POLLUTION
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
ALTERNATIVE POLICY INSTRUMENTS
APPROACH
ATMOSPHERE
AVERAGE PER CAPITA EMISSIONS
BASIC METALS
CARBON
CARBON CAPTURE
CARBON CONTENT
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS
CARBON EMISSION
CARBON EMISSIONS
CARBON TAX
CARBON TAXES
CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES
CLEANER ENERGY
CLEANER TECHNOLOGY
CLIMATE CHANGE
CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY
CLIMATE POLICY
COAL
COAL ENERGY
COAL MINING
CONSUMPTION OF PETROLEUM
COST OF ENERGY
CPI
CRUDE OIL
DEMAND ELASTICITIES
DEMAND ELASTICITY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISTORTIONARY TAXES
DIVIDENDS
DOUBLE DIVIDEND
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMIC WELFARE
ECONOMICS
ELASTICITIES
ELASTICITY OF SUBSTITUTION
ELASTICITY VALUES
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY SECTOR
EMISSION DATA
EMISSION REDUCTION
EMISSION REDUCTION TARGETS
EMISSION REDUCTIONS
EMISSION TARGETS
EMISSION TRADING
EMISSIONS REDUCTION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY COSTS
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY ECONOMICS
ENERGY EXPENDITURE
ENERGY EXPENDITURES
ENERGY INPUT
ENERGY INTENSITY
ENERGY INTENSIVE
ENERGY POLICIES
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY PRICES
ENERGY PRICING
ENERGY PRODUCTION
ENERGY RESEARCH
ENERGY SOURCE
ENERGY TAX
ENERGY TAXES
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY USAGE
ENERGY USE
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION
EQUILIBRIUM
EQUITY IMPACTS
EQUITY IMPLICATIONS
EQUIVALENT VARIATION
EXCISE TAXES
EXPENDITURE TAX
EXTERNALITIES
FERROUS METALS
FISHERIES
FISHING
FORESTRY
FOSSIL
FOSSIL FUEL
FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL TAXES
GAS SECTOR
GASOLINE
GENERATION
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GLOBAL GREENHOUSE
GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS
GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
GNP
GREENHOUSE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
GREENHOUSE GAS
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
GREENHOUSE GASES
HEAVY RELIANCE
HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPERFECT COMPETITION
IMPORTS
INCOME
INCOME TAX
INELASTIC DEMAND
INPUT TAXES
INPUT USE
INTERMEDIATE GOODS
INTERMEDIATE INPUTS
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKETS
LEISURE
LEVEL OF EMISSIONS
MACROECONOMICS
MARGINAL ABATEMENT
MARGINAL COST
MARGINAL PRODUCT
MARGINAL TAX RATES
MARKET DISTORTIONS
MOBILITY
MOTOR VEHICLES
NATIONAL INCOME
NATIONAL INCOME ACCOUNTING
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL RESOURCES
OIL
OIL CONSUMPTION
OIL IMPORTS
OIL PRICE
OPTIMAL TAXATION
PER CAPITA INCOME
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POWER
POWER SECTOR
PRICE CHANGES
PRICE OF ELECTRICITY
PRICES OF ENERGY
PRIMARY SOURCES
PRODUCERS
PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS
PRODUCTION OF ENERGY
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
PUBLIC GOOD
QUOTAS
REAL WAGES
REBATES
RECYCLING
REDUCTION IN CARBON
REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS
REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS
REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
REVENUE RECYCLING
SALES TAX
SALES TAXES
SAVINGS
SINGLE TAX
SUBSTITUTION ELASTICITIES
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
TAX
TAX CHANGES
TAX POLICIES
TAX POLICY
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REFORM
TAX REVENUE
TAX SUBSTITUTION
TAXATION
TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT
TRANSPORTATION
UNEMPLOYMENT
UTILITIES
VALUE ADDED TAX
VALUE ADDED TAXES
WAGE SUBSIDY
WAGES
WELFARE EFFECTS
WELFARE GAINS
WELFARE LOSS
WELFARE LOSSES
WOOD PRODUCTS
spellingShingle ABATEMENT
ABATEMENT COST
ADVERSE EFFECTS
AIR
AIR POLLUTION
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
ALTERNATIVE POLICY INSTRUMENTS
APPROACH
ATMOSPHERE
AVERAGE PER CAPITA EMISSIONS
BASIC METALS
CARBON
CARBON CAPTURE
CARBON CONTENT
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS
CARBON EMISSION
CARBON EMISSIONS
CARBON TAX
CARBON TAXES
CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES
CLEANER ENERGY
CLEANER TECHNOLOGY
CLIMATE CHANGE
CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY
CLIMATE POLICY
COAL
COAL ENERGY
COAL MINING
CONSUMPTION OF PETROLEUM
COST OF ENERGY
CPI
CRUDE OIL
DEMAND ELASTICITIES
DEMAND ELASTICITY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISTORTIONARY TAXES
DIVIDENDS
DOUBLE DIVIDEND
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMIC WELFARE
ECONOMICS
ELASTICITIES
ELASTICITY OF SUBSTITUTION
ELASTICITY VALUES
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY SECTOR
EMISSION DATA
EMISSION REDUCTION
EMISSION REDUCTION TARGETS
EMISSION REDUCTIONS
EMISSION TARGETS
EMISSION TRADING
EMISSIONS REDUCTION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY COSTS
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY ECONOMICS
ENERGY EXPENDITURE
ENERGY EXPENDITURES
ENERGY INPUT
ENERGY INTENSITY
ENERGY INTENSIVE
ENERGY POLICIES
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY PRICES
ENERGY PRICING
ENERGY PRODUCTION
ENERGY RESEARCH
ENERGY SOURCE
ENERGY TAX
ENERGY TAXES
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY USAGE
ENERGY USE
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION
EQUILIBRIUM
EQUITY IMPACTS
EQUITY IMPLICATIONS
EQUIVALENT VARIATION
EXCISE TAXES
EXPENDITURE TAX
EXTERNALITIES
FERROUS METALS
FISHERIES
FISHING
FORESTRY
FOSSIL
FOSSIL FUEL
FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL TAXES
GAS SECTOR
GASOLINE
GENERATION
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GLOBAL GREENHOUSE
GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS
GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
GNP
GREENHOUSE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
GREENHOUSE GAS
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
GREENHOUSE GASES
HEAVY RELIANCE
HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPERFECT COMPETITION
IMPORTS
INCOME
INCOME TAX
INELASTIC DEMAND
INPUT TAXES
INPUT USE
INTERMEDIATE GOODS
INTERMEDIATE INPUTS
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKETS
LEISURE
LEVEL OF EMISSIONS
MACROECONOMICS
MARGINAL ABATEMENT
MARGINAL COST
MARGINAL PRODUCT
MARGINAL TAX RATES
MARKET DISTORTIONS
MOBILITY
MOTOR VEHICLES
NATIONAL INCOME
NATIONAL INCOME ACCOUNTING
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL RESOURCES
OIL
OIL CONSUMPTION
OIL IMPORTS
OIL PRICE
OPTIMAL TAXATION
PER CAPITA INCOME
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POWER
POWER SECTOR
PRICE CHANGES
PRICE OF ELECTRICITY
PRICES OF ENERGY
PRIMARY SOURCES
PRODUCERS
PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS
PRODUCTION OF ENERGY
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
PUBLIC GOOD
QUOTAS
REAL WAGES
REBATES
RECYCLING
REDUCTION IN CARBON
REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS
REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS
REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
REVENUE RECYCLING
SALES TAX
SALES TAXES
SAVINGS
SINGLE TAX
SUBSTITUTION ELASTICITIES
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
TAX
TAX CHANGES
TAX POLICIES
TAX POLICY
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REFORM
TAX REVENUE
TAX SUBSTITUTION
TAXATION
TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT
TRANSPORTATION
UNEMPLOYMENT
UTILITIES
VALUE ADDED TAX
VALUE ADDED TAXES
WAGE SUBSIDY
WAGES
WELFARE EFFECTS
WELFARE GAINS
WELFARE LOSS
WELFARE LOSSES
WOOD PRODUCTS
Devarajan, Shantayanan
Go, Delfin S.
Robinson, Sherman
Thierfelder, Karen
Tax Policy to Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Africa
geographic_facet Africa
Africa
Southern Africa
relation Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 4933
description Noting that South Africa may be one of the few African countries that could contribute to mitigating climate change, the authors explore the impact of a carbon tax relative to alternative energy taxes on economic welfare. Using a disaggregate general-equilibrium model of the South African economy, they capture the structural characteristics of the energy sector, linking a supply mix that is heavily skewed toward coal to energy use by different sectors and hence their carbon content. The authors consider a "pure" carbon tax as well as various proxy taxes such as those on energy or energy-intensive sectors like transport and basic metals, all of which achieve the same level of carbon reduction. In general, the more targeted the tax to carbon emissions, the better the welfare results. If a carbon tax is feasible, it will have the least marginal cost of abatement by a substantial amount when compared to alternative tax instruments. If a carbon tax is not feasible, a sales tax on energy inputs is the next best option. Moreover, labor market distortions such as labor market segmentation or unemployment will likely dominate the welfare and equity implications of a carbon tax for South Africa. This being the case, if South Africa were able to remove some of the distortions in the labor market, the cost of carbon taxation would be negligible. In short, the discussion of carbon taxation in South Africa can focus on considerations other than the economic welfare costs, which are likely to be quite low.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Devarajan, Shantayanan
Go, Delfin S.
Robinson, Sherman
Thierfelder, Karen
author_facet Devarajan, Shantayanan
Go, Delfin S.
Robinson, Sherman
Thierfelder, Karen
author_sort Devarajan, Shantayanan
title Tax Policy to Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Africa
title_short Tax Policy to Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Africa
title_full Tax Policy to Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Africa
title_fullStr Tax Policy to Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Tax Policy to Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Africa
title_sort tax policy to reduce carbon emissions in south africa
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20090518093557
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4127
_version_ 1764390034597740544
spelling okr-10986-41272021-04-23T14:02:15Z Tax Policy to Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Africa Devarajan, Shantayanan Go, Delfin S. Robinson, Sherman Thierfelder, Karen ABATEMENT ABATEMENT COST ADVERSE EFFECTS AIR AIR POLLUTION ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ALTERNATIVE POLICY INSTRUMENTS APPROACH ATMOSPHERE AVERAGE PER CAPITA EMISSIONS BASIC METALS CARBON CARBON CAPTURE CARBON CONTENT CARBON DIOXIDE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS CARBON EMISSION CARBON EMISSIONS CARBON TAX CARBON TAXES CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES CLEANER ENERGY CLEANER TECHNOLOGY CLIMATE CHANGE CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY CLIMATE POLICY COAL COAL ENERGY COAL MINING CONSUMPTION OF PETROLEUM COST OF ENERGY CPI CRUDE OIL DEMAND ELASTICITIES DEMAND ELASTICITY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES DISTORTIONARY TAXES DIVIDENDS DOUBLE DIVIDEND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ECONOMIC IMPACT ECONOMIC WELFARE ECONOMICS ELASTICITIES ELASTICITY OF SUBSTITUTION ELASTICITY VALUES ELECTRICAL MACHINERY ELECTRICITY ELECTRICITY SECTOR EMISSION DATA EMISSION REDUCTION EMISSION REDUCTION TARGETS EMISSION REDUCTIONS EMISSION TARGETS EMISSION TRADING EMISSIONS REDUCTION ENERGY CONSUMPTION ENERGY COSTS ENERGY DEMAND ENERGY ECONOMICS ENERGY EXPENDITURE ENERGY EXPENDITURES ENERGY INPUT ENERGY INTENSITY ENERGY INTENSIVE ENERGY POLICIES ENERGY POLICY ENERGY PRICES ENERGY PRICING ENERGY PRODUCTION ENERGY RESEARCH ENERGY SOURCE ENERGY TAX ENERGY TAXES ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES ENERGY TECHNOLOGY ENERGY USAGE ENERGY USE ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION EQUILIBRIUM EQUITY IMPACTS EQUITY IMPLICATIONS EQUIVALENT VARIATION EXCISE TAXES EXPENDITURE TAX EXTERNALITIES FERROUS METALS FISHERIES FISHING FORESTRY FOSSIL FOSSIL FUEL FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS FOSSIL FUELS FUEL TAXES GAS SECTOR GASOLINE GENERATION GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS GNP GREENHOUSE GREENHOUSE EFFECT GREENHOUSE GAS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS GREENHOUSE GASES HEAVY RELIANCE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPERFECT COMPETITION IMPORTS INCOME INCOME TAX INELASTIC DEMAND INPUT TAXES INPUT USE INTERMEDIATE GOODS INTERMEDIATE INPUTS INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY LABOR FORCE LABOR MARKETS LEISURE LEVEL OF EMISSIONS MACROECONOMICS MARGINAL ABATEMENT MARGINAL COST MARGINAL PRODUCT MARGINAL TAX RATES MARKET DISTORTIONS MOBILITY MOTOR VEHICLES NATIONAL INCOME NATIONAL INCOME ACCOUNTING NATURAL GAS NATURAL RESOURCES OIL OIL CONSUMPTION OIL IMPORTS OIL PRICE OPTIMAL TAXATION PER CAPITA INCOME PETROLEUM PETROLEUM PRODUCTS POLLUTION POLLUTION CONTROL POWER POWER SECTOR PRICE CHANGES PRICE OF ELECTRICITY PRICES OF ENERGY PRIMARY SOURCES PRODUCERS PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS PRODUCTION OF ENERGY PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTIVITY PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH PUBLIC EXPENDITURES PUBLIC GOOD QUOTAS REAL WAGES REBATES RECYCLING REDUCTION IN CARBON REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS REVENUE RECYCLING SALES TAX SALES TAXES SAVINGS SINGLE TAX SUBSTITUTION ELASTICITIES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TAX TAX CHANGES TAX POLICIES TAX POLICY TAX RATE TAX RATES TAX REFORM TAX REVENUE TAX SUBSTITUTION TAXATION TRANSPORT TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTATION UNEMPLOYMENT UTILITIES VALUE ADDED TAX VALUE ADDED TAXES WAGE SUBSIDY WAGES WELFARE EFFECTS WELFARE GAINS WELFARE LOSS WELFARE LOSSES WOOD PRODUCTS Noting that South Africa may be one of the few African countries that could contribute to mitigating climate change, the authors explore the impact of a carbon tax relative to alternative energy taxes on economic welfare. Using a disaggregate general-equilibrium model of the South African economy, they capture the structural characteristics of the energy sector, linking a supply mix that is heavily skewed toward coal to energy use by different sectors and hence their carbon content. The authors consider a "pure" carbon tax as well as various proxy taxes such as those on energy or energy-intensive sectors like transport and basic metals, all of which achieve the same level of carbon reduction. In general, the more targeted the tax to carbon emissions, the better the welfare results. If a carbon tax is feasible, it will have the least marginal cost of abatement by a substantial amount when compared to alternative tax instruments. If a carbon tax is not feasible, a sales tax on energy inputs is the next best option. Moreover, labor market distortions such as labor market segmentation or unemployment will likely dominate the welfare and equity implications of a carbon tax for South Africa. This being the case, if South Africa were able to remove some of the distortions in the labor market, the cost of carbon taxation would be negligible. In short, the discussion of carbon taxation in South Africa can focus on considerations other than the economic welfare costs, which are likely to be quite low. 2012-03-19T19:10:26Z 2012-03-19T19:10:26Z 2009-05-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20090518093557 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4127 English Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 4933 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Africa Africa Southern Africa