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Climate Change Mitigation Policies: Aggregate and Distributional Effects

Authors 
Zeina Hasna
Tiago Cavalcanti
Cezar Santos
Publication Year 
2020
JEL Code 
E13 - Neoclassical
H23 - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
J24 - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
Abstract 
We evaluate the aggregate and distributional effects of climate change mitigation policies using a multi-sector equilibrium model with intersectoral inputoutput linkages and worker heterogeneity calibrated to different countries. The introduction of carbon taxes leads to changes in relative prices and inputs reallocation, including labor. For the United States, reaching its Paris Agreement pledge would imply at most a 0.6% drop in output. This impact is distributed asymmetrically across sectors and individuals.Workers with a comparative advantage in dirty energy sectors who do not reallocate bear relatively more of the cost but constitute a small fraction of the labor force.
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