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Article
The Macroeconomic Impact of Europe's Carbon Taxes
American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics (2023)
  • Gilbert E. Metcalf
  • James Stock, Harvard University
Abstract
We estimate the macroeconomic impacts of carbon taxes on GDP and employment growth rates using 30 years of data on carbon taxation in various European countries. We find no evidence for a negative impact on employment or GDP growth but rather find a zero to modest positive impact. We also find a cumulative emissions reduction on the order of 4 to 6 percent for a $40/ton CO2 tax covering 30 percent of emissions. Reductions would likely be greater for a broad-based US carbon tax since European carbon taxes typically do not cover those sectors with the lowest marginal abatement costs.
Keywords
  • carbon taxes,
  • climate policy,
  • Economic Growth
Publication Date
July, 2023
DOI
10.1257/mac.20210052
Citation Information
Gilbert E. Metcalf and James Stock. "The Macroeconomic Impact of Europe's Carbon Taxes" American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics Vol. 15 Iss. 3 (2023) p. 265 - 286
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/gilbert_metcalf/136/