Details

Contact: Carl Pasurka, 202-566-2275

Presenter: Arik Levinson (Economics Department, Georgetown University)

Description: Economists prescribe energy taxes as cost-effective, but policymakers raise concerns about their distributional consequences, preferring to set energy efficiency standards instead. I start by comparing the two in the context of automobile regulations, and show that a gasoline tax would be less regressive than a revenue-equivalent fuel economy standard, and that both are less regressive than the footprint-based standard the US switched to in 2011. I then use a theoretical model to suggest that this result is not unexpected. Finally, I provide supporting evidence from energy efficiency features of appliances and building construction.

EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics (NCEE) will host our next Climate Economics seminar on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 2:00 PM in Room 4128 William Jefferson Clinton West (formerly EPA West). The seminar will be 90 minutes in length.  Detailed information is provided below.  Our office is located in William Jefferson Clinton West (1301 Constitution Ave., NW, corner of 14th St. and Constitution Ave.).  If you do not have an EPA ID and wish to attend a seminar please contact Carl Pasurka to obtain access to the building.  Questions?  Contact Carl Pasurka (202-566-2275).  If you have questions the day of the seminar, contact Carl Pasurka at 202-566-2275.

NOTE to non-EPA attendees:  EPA Security requires ALL non-EPA (federal and non-federal) visitors have a contact name and phone number in order to enter EPA West.  As a result, contact me if you plan to attend a seminar.  I recommend non-EPA attendees bring their cell phones and my phone number in case problems arise the day of the seminar.

A teleconference connection (only audio) can be established for this seminar. If you are interested, send me an e-mail message.  If you need to contact me within 30 minutes of the start of the seminar, call me at (202) 566-2275.