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Unpublished Paper
An Experimental Analysis of Compliance in Dynamic Emissions Markets
Economics Department Working Paper Series (2011)
  • John K. Stranlund, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • James J. Murphy
  • John M. Spraggon, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Abstract
Two important design elements for emission trading programs are whether and to what extent firms are able to bank emissions permits, and how these programs are to be enforced. In this paper we present results from laboratory emissions markets designed to investigate enforcement and compliance when these markets allow permit banking. Banking is motivated by a decrease in the aggregate permit supply in the middle of multi-period trading sessions. Consistent with theoretical insights, our experiments suggest that high permit violation penalties have little deterrence value in dynamic emissions markets, and that the main challenge of enforcing these programs is to motivate truthful self-reports of emissions.
Keywords
  • Compliance,
  • Enforcement,
  • Emissions trading,
  • Laboratory experiments,
  • Permit markets,
  • Permit banking
Disciplines
Publication Date
April, 2011
Citation Information
John K. Stranlund, James J. Murphy and John M. Spraggon. "An Experimental Analysis of Compliance in Dynamic Emissions Markets" Economics Department Working Paper Series (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/john_spraggon/1/