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How constant is constant elasticity of substitution? Endogenous substitution between clean and dirty energy

  • ETH Zürich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18   Link opens in a new tab Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

The degree of substitutability between clean and dirty energy plays a central role in leading economic analyses of optimal environmental policy. Despite the importance, assuming a constant and exogenous elasticity of substitution has been a dominant theoretical approach. We challenge this assumption by developing a dynamic general equilibrium model with an endogenous elasticity of substitution that interacts with the relative share of clean inputs in the economy. We find strong dynamic feedback effects arising from endogenous substitution capacity that amplifies the impact of directed technical change and accelerates the transition to a green economy.
Original languageEnglish
Article number102982
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of Environmental Economics and Management
Volume125
Early online date16 Apr 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 May 2024

Acknowledgements

We thank Maria Alsina-Pujols, Lucas Bretschger, Daniel Haerle, Christos Karydas, Alexei Minabutdinov, Armon Rezai and participants at the RESEC seminar
2022, EAERE 2022, SURED 2022, and AERE 2022 conferences for their helpful comments. We thank the Secure Data Access Center (CASD) for providing confidential micro data.

Funding

Alena Miftakhova gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Switzerland.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

  • Climate change
  • Directed technical change
  • Elasticity of substitution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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