Grantee Research Project Results
A Framework to Compare Polices for Source Reduction
EPA Grant Number: R824740Title: A Framework to Compare Polices for Source Reduction
Investigators: Fullerton, Don
Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1997
Project Amount: $88,784
RFA: Incentives and Impediments to Pollution Prevention (1995) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Description:
The purpose of this project is to build a single analytical general equilibrium model of the U.S. economy for use in comparing alternative polices for source reduction or "green design." The model encompasses the entire life-cycle of a product including design, production, packaging, sale, consumption, and disposal. It also encompasses market clearing at each of these phases, and the possibility of negative externalities from disposal. Thus, if consumers had to pay for the full social cost of disposal of each item, then they would demand goods with less packaging and with recyclable designs. Since consumers generally do not pay a price per bag of curbside garbage disposal, however, any particular item can be discarded for free. Producers then are not induced to sell goods with less packaging or more recyclable designs. The same model can then be used to solve for policies directed at firms that would equivalently reduce packaging and increase recyclability. This model will be extended to a second-best framework, with pre-existing labor taxes and other distortions, to see how these policies for green design can simultaneously address environmental problems and revenue needs.Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 6 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 4 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Scientific Discipline, Sustainable Industry/Business, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Economics, Social Science, analytical general equilibrium model, green design, recyclable design, cost benefit, source reduction policies, product life cycle, packaging, incentives and impedimentsProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.