Designing Carbon Taxation Schemes for Automobiles: A Simulation Exercise for Germany

Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP8782

Authors: Adamos Adamou; Sofronis Clerides; Theodoros Zachariadis

Abstract: Vehicle taxation based on CO2 emissions is increasingly being adopted worldwide in order to shift consumer purchases to low-carbon cars, yet little is known about the effectiveness and overall economic impact of these schemes. We focus on feebate schemes, which impose a fee on high-carbon vehicles and give a rebate to purchasers of low-carbon automobiles. We estimate a discrete choice model of demand for automobiles in Germany and simulate the impact of alternative feebate schemes on emissions, consumer welfare, public revenues and firm profits. The analysis shows that a well-designed scheme can lead to emission reductions without reducing overall welfare.

Keywords: carbon taxation; CO2 emissions; feebates; German automobile market

JEL Codes: L92; Q52; Q58


Causal Claims Network Graph

Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.


Causal Claims

CauseEffect
feebate system (H20)CO2 emissions (Q54)
feebate system (H20)consumer welfare (D69)
feebate system (H20)firm profits (L21)
feebate system parameters (H21)emissions and welfare outcomes (D69)

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