Designing Economic Instruments for the Environment in a Decentralized Fiscal System

When external effects are important, markets will be inefficient, and economists have considered several broad classes of economic instruments to correct these inefficiencies. However, the standard economic analysis has tended to neglect important...

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Main Authors: Alm, James, Banzhaf, H. Spencer
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2012
Subjects:
MPC
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2007/10/8560263/designing-economic-instruments-environment-decentralized-fiscal-system
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7566
id okr-10986-7566
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 COSTS
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
ALLOWANCE TRADING
AVERAGE COSTS
AVERAGE TAX RATES
BENEFICIARIES
BUSINESS CYCLES
CAPITAL FLOWS
CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS
COMMODITIES
COMPETITIVE MARKET
CONSUMPTION TAX
CONTINUOUS MONITORING
COST SAVINGS
CREDIBILITY
DECENTRALIZATION
DEPOSIT
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME
DRINKING WATER
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS
ECONOMICS
ECONOMISTS
ELECTRICITY
EMISSION STANDARDS
EMISSIONS
EMISSIONS STANDARDS
EMISSIONS TRADING
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNALITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TAXES
EQUILIBRIUM
EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSES
EXCISE TAXES
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURE ASSIGNMENT
EXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITIES
EXPENDITURES
EXTERNAL COSTS
EXTERNALITIES
FACTORS OF PRODUCTION
FINANCIAL CAPITAL
FISCAL AUTONOMY
FISCAL CAPACITIES
FISCAL CAPACITY
FISCAL CONSTRAINTS
FISCAL FEDERALISM
FISCAL POLICY
FUEL TAXES
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE
GLOBAL CLIMATE
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GLOBAL ECONOMY
GLOBALIZATION
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
GOVERNMENT FINANCE
GOVERNMENT FINANCES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GREEN ECONOMICS
HARMONIZATION
INCOME
INCOME TAX
INCOME TAXES
INCOMES
INDIVIDUAL POLLUTERS
INELASTIC DEMAND
INFLATION
INFORMATION SERVICES
INFORMATION SHARING
INSTRUMENT
INTANGIBLE
INTANGIBLE GOODS
INTEREST INCOME
INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS
INTERNATIONAL BANK
JURISDICTION
JURISDICTIONS
LEGAL AUTHORITY
LEVIES
LEVY
LOCAL AUTONOMY
LOCAL FINANCE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAX
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
LOCAL TAXES
LOTTERIES
MARGINAL ABATEMENT
MARGINAL ABATEMENT COSTS
MARGINAL COST
MARGINAL COSTS
MARKET FAILURE
MARKET FAILURES
MARKET PRICES
MARKET TRANSACTIONS
MATCHING GRANTS
MONETARY POLICY
MONITORING EQUIPMENT
MONOPOLY
MORAL HAZARD
MPC
NATURAL RESOURCE
OPEN COUNTRY
OUTPUT
OUTPUTS
OZONE LAYER
POLICY DECISIONS
POLICY INSTRUMENTS
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLLUTERS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CHARGES
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION FEES
POLLUTION LEVELS
POLLUTION PERMITS
POLLUTION TAX
POLLUTION TAXES
POWER PLANTS
PRICE CHANGES
PRIVATE COSTS
PRODUCERS
PROPERTY TAX
PROPERTY TAXES
PROVISIONS
PUBLIC
PUBLIC ECONOMICS
PUBLIC FINANCE
PUBLIC FINANCES
PUBLIC GOOD
PUBLIC GOODS
PUBLIC POLICY
RECYCLING
REGISTRATION FEE
REGRESSIVE TAX
REGULATORY CONSTRAINTS
RESERVE
RESOURCE USE
REVENUE ASSIGNMENT
REVENUE PERFORMANCE
REVENUE SHARING
REVENUE SOURCES
REVENUE TRANSFERS
ROADS
RULE OF LAW
SALES TAX
SALES TAXES
SERIAL NUMBERS
SHAREHOLDERS
SIN TAXES
SOCIAL COST
SOCIAL COSTS
SOFT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION
STABILIZATION POLICIES
STABILIZATION POLICY
STAMP DUTIES
SUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS
SUBSIDIARITY PRINCIPLE
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SURCHARGES
SURTAX
SURTAXES
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
TANGIBLE GOODS
TAX ASSIGNMENT
TAX BASE
TAX BASES
TAX BREAKS
TAX COLLECTIONS
TAX COMPETITION
TAX INCENTIVES
TAX LAWS
TAX LIABILITIES
TAX POLICIES
TAX POLICY
TAX RATE
TAX SHARING
TAX SYSTEM
TAX SYSTEMS
TAXATION
TAXPAYERS
TRADABLE PERMITS
TRADEOFFS
TRADES
TRADING SYSTEM
TRANSFER TAX
TRANSITION COUNTRIES
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
TREASURY
UNEMPLOYMENT
URBAN ECONOMICS
URBAN GROWTH
URBAN PUBLIC FINANCE
USER CHARGES
UTILITIES
VALUATION
VALUE ADDED TAX
VALUE ADDED TAXES
WAGES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WELFARE ECONOMICS
spellingShingle ABATEMENT COSTS
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
ALLOWANCE TRADING
AVERAGE COSTS
AVERAGE TAX RATES
BENEFICIARIES
BUSINESS CYCLES
CAPITAL FLOWS
CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS
COMMODITIES
COMPETITIVE MARKET
CONSUMPTION TAX
CONTINUOUS MONITORING
COST SAVINGS
CREDIBILITY
DECENTRALIZATION
DEPOSIT
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME
DRINKING WATER
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS
ECONOMICS
ECONOMISTS
ELECTRICITY
EMISSION STANDARDS
EMISSIONS
EMISSIONS STANDARDS
EMISSIONS TRADING
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNALITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TAXES
EQUILIBRIUM
EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSES
EXCISE TAXES
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURE ASSIGNMENT
EXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITIES
EXPENDITURES
EXTERNAL COSTS
EXTERNALITIES
FACTORS OF PRODUCTION
FINANCIAL CAPITAL
FISCAL AUTONOMY
FISCAL CAPACITIES
FISCAL CAPACITY
FISCAL CONSTRAINTS
FISCAL FEDERALISM
FISCAL POLICY
FUEL TAXES
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE
GLOBAL CLIMATE
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GLOBAL ECONOMY
GLOBALIZATION
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
GOVERNMENT FINANCE
GOVERNMENT FINANCES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GREEN ECONOMICS
HARMONIZATION
INCOME
INCOME TAX
INCOME TAXES
INCOMES
INDIVIDUAL POLLUTERS
INELASTIC DEMAND
INFLATION
INFORMATION SERVICES
INFORMATION SHARING
INSTRUMENT
INTANGIBLE
INTANGIBLE GOODS
INTEREST INCOME
INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS
INTERNATIONAL BANK
JURISDICTION
JURISDICTIONS
LEGAL AUTHORITY
LEVIES
LEVY
LOCAL AUTONOMY
LOCAL FINANCE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAX
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
LOCAL TAXES
LOTTERIES
MARGINAL ABATEMENT
MARGINAL ABATEMENT COSTS
MARGINAL COST
MARGINAL COSTS
MARKET FAILURE
MARKET FAILURES
MARKET PRICES
MARKET TRANSACTIONS
MATCHING GRANTS
MONETARY POLICY
MONITORING EQUIPMENT
MONOPOLY
MORAL HAZARD
MPC
NATURAL RESOURCE
OPEN COUNTRY
OUTPUT
OUTPUTS
OZONE LAYER
POLICY DECISIONS
POLICY INSTRUMENTS
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLLUTERS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CHARGES
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION FEES
POLLUTION LEVELS
POLLUTION PERMITS
POLLUTION TAX
POLLUTION TAXES
POWER PLANTS
PRICE CHANGES
PRIVATE COSTS
PRODUCERS
PROPERTY TAX
PROPERTY TAXES
PROVISIONS
PUBLIC
PUBLIC ECONOMICS
PUBLIC FINANCE
PUBLIC FINANCES
PUBLIC GOOD
PUBLIC GOODS
PUBLIC POLICY
RECYCLING
REGISTRATION FEE
REGRESSIVE TAX
REGULATORY CONSTRAINTS
RESERVE
RESOURCE USE
REVENUE ASSIGNMENT
REVENUE PERFORMANCE
REVENUE SHARING
REVENUE SOURCES
REVENUE TRANSFERS
ROADS
RULE OF LAW
SALES TAX
SALES TAXES
SERIAL NUMBERS
SHAREHOLDERS
SIN TAXES
SOCIAL COST
SOCIAL COSTS
SOFT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION
STABILIZATION POLICIES
STABILIZATION POLICY
STAMP DUTIES
SUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS
SUBSIDIARITY PRINCIPLE
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SURCHARGES
SURTAX
SURTAXES
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
TANGIBLE GOODS
TAX ASSIGNMENT
TAX BASE
TAX BASES
TAX BREAKS
TAX COLLECTIONS
TAX COMPETITION
TAX INCENTIVES
TAX LAWS
TAX LIABILITIES
TAX POLICIES
TAX POLICY
TAX RATE
TAX SHARING
TAX SYSTEM
TAX SYSTEMS
TAXATION
TAXPAYERS
TRADABLE PERMITS
TRADEOFFS
TRADES
TRADING SYSTEM
TRANSFER TAX
TRANSITION COUNTRIES
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
TREASURY
UNEMPLOYMENT
URBAN ECONOMICS
URBAN GROWTH
URBAN PUBLIC FINANCE
USER CHARGES
UTILITIES
VALUATION
VALUE ADDED TAX
VALUE ADDED TAXES
WAGES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WELFARE ECONOMICS
Alm, James
Banzhaf, H. Spencer
Designing Economic Instruments for the Environment in a Decentralized Fiscal System
relation Policy Research Working Paper; No. 4379
description When external effects are important, markets will be inefficient, and economists have considered several broad classes of economic instruments to correct these inefficiencies. However, the standard economic analysis has tended to neglect important distinctions and interactions between the geographic scope of pollutants, the enforcement authority of various levels of government, and the fiscal responsibilities of the levels of government. For example, externalities generated in a particular local area may be confined to the local area or may spill over to other jurisdictions. Also, local governments may be well informed about how best to regulate or enforce pollution control within their jurisdiction, but they may not consider the effects of their actions on other jurisdictions. Finally, the existence of locally-generated waste emissions affects the appropriate assignment of both expenditure and tax responsibilities among levels of government. The standard analysis therefore focuses mainly upon an aggregate (or national) perspective, it typically ignores the possibility that the externality may be created and addressed by local governments, and it does not consider the implications of decentralization for the design of economic instruments targeted at environmental problems. This paper examines the implications of decentralization for the design of corrective policies; that is, how does one design economic instruments in a decentralized fiscal system in which externalities exist at the local level and in which subnational governments have the power to provide local public services, as well as to choose tax instruments that can both finance these expenditures and correct the market failures of externalities?
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Alm, James
Banzhaf, H. Spencer
author_facet Alm, James
Banzhaf, H. Spencer
author_sort Alm, James
title Designing Economic Instruments for the Environment in a Decentralized Fiscal System
title_short Designing Economic Instruments for the Environment in a Decentralized Fiscal System
title_full Designing Economic Instruments for the Environment in a Decentralized Fiscal System
title_fullStr Designing Economic Instruments for the Environment in a Decentralized Fiscal System
title_full_unstemmed Designing Economic Instruments for the Environment in a Decentralized Fiscal System
title_sort designing economic instruments for the environment in a decentralized fiscal system
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2012
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2007/10/8560263/designing-economic-instruments-environment-decentralized-fiscal-system
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7566
_version_ 1764402503799013376
spelling okr-10986-75662021-04-23T14:02:34Z Designing Economic Instruments for the Environment in a Decentralized Fiscal System Alm, James Banzhaf, H. Spencer ABATEMENT COSTS ACID RAIN AIR POLLUTION AIR QUALITY ALLOWANCE TRADING AVERAGE COSTS AVERAGE TAX RATES BENEFICIARIES BUSINESS CYCLES CAPITAL FLOWS CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS COMMODITIES COMPETITIVE MARKET CONSUMPTION TAX CONTINUOUS MONITORING COST SAVINGS CREDIBILITY DECENTRALIZATION DEPOSIT DEVELOPED COUNTRIES DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPMENT BANK DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME DRINKING WATER ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC INCENTIVES ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS ECONOMICS ECONOMISTS ELECTRICITY EMISSION STANDARDS EMISSIONS EMISSIONS STANDARDS EMISSIONS TRADING EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNALITIES ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION ENVIRONMENTAL TAXES EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSES EXCISE TAXES EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURE ASSIGNMENT EXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITIES EXPENDITURES EXTERNAL COSTS EXTERNALITIES FACTORS OF PRODUCTION FINANCIAL CAPITAL FISCAL AUTONOMY FISCAL CAPACITIES FISCAL CAPACITY FISCAL CONSTRAINTS FISCAL FEDERALISM FISCAL POLICY FUEL TAXES GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE GLOBAL CLIMATE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE GLOBAL ECONOMY GLOBALIZATION GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES GOVERNMENT FINANCE GOVERNMENT FINANCES GOVERNMENT POLICIES GREEN ECONOMICS HARMONIZATION INCOME INCOME TAX INCOME TAXES INCOMES INDIVIDUAL POLLUTERS INELASTIC DEMAND INFLATION INFORMATION SERVICES INFORMATION SHARING INSTRUMENT INTANGIBLE INTANGIBLE GOODS INTEREST INCOME INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS INTERNATIONAL BANK JURISDICTION JURISDICTIONS LEGAL AUTHORITY LEVIES LEVY LOCAL AUTONOMY LOCAL FINANCE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOCAL TAXES LOTTERIES MARGINAL ABATEMENT MARGINAL ABATEMENT COSTS MARGINAL COST MARGINAL COSTS MARKET FAILURE MARKET FAILURES MARKET PRICES MARKET TRANSACTIONS MATCHING GRANTS MONETARY POLICY MONITORING EQUIPMENT MONOPOLY MORAL HAZARD MPC NATURAL RESOURCE OPEN COUNTRY OUTPUT OUTPUTS OZONE LAYER POLICY DECISIONS POLICY INSTRUMENTS POLITICAL ECONOMY POLLUTERS POLLUTION POLLUTION ABATEMENT POLLUTION CHARGES POLLUTION CONTROL POLLUTION FEES POLLUTION LEVELS POLLUTION PERMITS POLLUTION TAX POLLUTION TAXES POWER PLANTS PRICE CHANGES PRIVATE COSTS PRODUCERS PROPERTY TAX PROPERTY TAXES PROVISIONS PUBLIC PUBLIC ECONOMICS PUBLIC FINANCE PUBLIC FINANCES PUBLIC GOOD PUBLIC GOODS PUBLIC POLICY RECYCLING REGISTRATION FEE REGRESSIVE TAX REGULATORY CONSTRAINTS RESERVE RESOURCE USE REVENUE ASSIGNMENT REVENUE PERFORMANCE REVENUE SHARING REVENUE SOURCES REVENUE TRANSFERS ROADS RULE OF LAW SALES TAX SALES TAXES SERIAL NUMBERS SHAREHOLDERS SIN TAXES SOCIAL COST SOCIAL COSTS SOFT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS SOLID WASTE COLLECTION STABILIZATION POLICIES STABILIZATION POLICY STAMP DUTIES SUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS SUBSIDIARITY PRINCIPLE SULFUR DIOXIDE SURCHARGES SURTAX SURTAXES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TANGIBLE GOODS TAX ASSIGNMENT TAX BASE TAX BASES TAX BREAKS TAX COLLECTIONS TAX COMPETITION TAX INCENTIVES TAX LAWS TAX LIABILITIES TAX POLICIES TAX POLICY TAX RATE TAX SHARING TAX SYSTEM TAX SYSTEMS TAXATION TAXPAYERS TRADABLE PERMITS TRADEOFFS TRADES TRADING SYSTEM TRANSFER TAX TRANSITION COUNTRIES TRANSITION ECONOMIES TREASURY UNEMPLOYMENT URBAN ECONOMICS URBAN GROWTH URBAN PUBLIC FINANCE USER CHARGES UTILITIES VALUATION VALUE ADDED TAX VALUE ADDED TAXES WAGES WASTE MANAGEMENT WELFARE ECONOMICS When external effects are important, markets will be inefficient, and economists have considered several broad classes of economic instruments to correct these inefficiencies. However, the standard economic analysis has tended to neglect important distinctions and interactions between the geographic scope of pollutants, the enforcement authority of various levels of government, and the fiscal responsibilities of the levels of government. For example, externalities generated in a particular local area may be confined to the local area or may spill over to other jurisdictions. Also, local governments may be well informed about how best to regulate or enforce pollution control within their jurisdiction, but they may not consider the effects of their actions on other jurisdictions. Finally, the existence of locally-generated waste emissions affects the appropriate assignment of both expenditure and tax responsibilities among levels of government. The standard analysis therefore focuses mainly upon an aggregate (or national) perspective, it typically ignores the possibility that the externality may be created and addressed by local governments, and it does not consider the implications of decentralization for the design of economic instruments targeted at environmental problems. This paper examines the implications of decentralization for the design of corrective policies; that is, how does one design economic instruments in a decentralized fiscal system in which externalities exist at the local level and in which subnational governments have the power to provide local public services, as well as to choose tax instruments that can both finance these expenditures and correct the market failures of externalities? 2012-06-08T19:06:06Z 2012-06-08T19:06:06Z 2007-10 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2007/10/8560263/designing-economic-instruments-environment-decentralized-fiscal-system http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7566 English Policy Research Working Paper; No. 4379 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Publications & Research