The social cost of carbon with intragenerational inequality and economic uncertainty

van der Ploeg, Frederick, Emmerling, Johannes and Groom, Ben ORCID: 0000-0003-0729-143X (2023) The social cost of carbon with intragenerational inequality and economic uncertainty. Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment Working Papers (389). Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

Text (working-paper-389-van der Ploeg et al) - Published Version Download (1MB)

• https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/...

Abstract

An analytical formula is presented for the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) taking account of intragenerational income inequality, in addition to intergenerational income inequality, macro-economic uncertainty and rare disasters to economic growth. The social discount rate is adjusted for intra- and intergenerational inequality aversion and risk aversion. If growth reduces intragenerational inequality, the SCC is lower than with inequality-neutral growth, especially if intra- and intergenerational inequality aversion are high. Calibrated to the observed interest rate and risk premium, the SCC in 2020 is $125/tCO2 without considering intragenerational inequality, $81/tCO2 if intragenerational inequality decreases over time, as a continuation of historical trends suggests (based on Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 2), and $213/tCO2 if inequality increases (SSP4). Intragenerational inequality has a similar order of effect on the SCC as accounting for rare macroeconomic disasters.

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Official URL:	https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publicatio...
Additional Information:	© 2023 The Authors
Divisions:	Grantham Research Institute
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
JEL classification:	C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C6 - Mathematical Methods and Programming > C61 - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis D - Microeconomics > D3 - Distribution > D31 - Personal Income, Wealth, and Their Distributions D - Microeconomics > D6 - Welfare Economics > D62 - Externalities D - Microeconomics > D8 - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty > D81 - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty G - Financial Economics > G1 - General Financial Markets > G12 - Asset Pricing; Trading volume; Bond Interest Rates H - Public Economics > H2 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue > H23 - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q54 - Climate; Natural Disasters
Date Deposited:	16 Jan 2023 13:57
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2023 23:58
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/117898

Actions (login required)

View Item