Improving the Environment through Reducing Subsidies
Subtitle: Part I: Summary and Conclusions - Part II: Analysis and Overview of Studies
By: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Paris
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource]:
Number of pages: 168
ISBN-13: 9789264162679
Subjects: Ecology; Euthenics; Nature and nurture; Adaptation (Biology)
Description: Substantial amounts of money continue to be spent in OECD Member countries on measures to support agricultural, energy, transportation and industrial activities. Many of these support measures encourage the emission of environmentally-harmful pollutants, the generation of waste, and the excessive use of natural resources, and constitute a large drain on government budgets. In addition, much of the money spent on support may not reach the intended recipients as it can leak away to other sectors of the economy instead. As such, it is likely that the reform or removal of these subsidies could lead to "win-win" benefits through increased economic efficiency, reduced government spending and improved environmental quality.Building on the vast literature on the subject as well as on the available statistical data on subsidies, this publication summarises the results of an OECD study on how economic support measures actually affect the economy and, as a result, the environment. Although the effects of a given support measure on the environment will be determined by a number of different factors, this study finds that releasing market forces through support removal and increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of regulations can lead to significant environmental benefits.The report develops an analytical framework which enables policy makers to identify those support measures whose removal is most likely to lead to "win-win" benefits. It also offers recommendations to implementing reductions in environmentally-harmful subsidies -- especially those that run counter to environmental objectives that are shared by OECD Member countries -- and to overcome the often exaggerated fear of a loss in competitiveness.
Table of contents: title: Part I. Summary and Policy Conclusions; title: 1. Introduction; title: 2. Trends and Current Levels of Support; title: 3. Effects of Different Types of Support on the Relevant Sectors; title: 4. Effects on International Trade and Competitiveness; title: 5. Implementation Strategies; title: 6. Main Findings; title: 7. Policy Conclusions; title: Part II. Analysis and Overview of Studies; title: 2. the Development of Trends and Current Levels of Support; title: 3. Identifying Factors that Determine the Environmental Effects of Support Measures; title: 4. Empirical Evidence; title: References; title: Annex 1. The Mandate; title: Annex 2. The Role of Price Elasticities of Demand and Supply in Determining the Effects of Different Support Measures; title: Annex 3. The Effects of Support on Trade: A Graphical Presentation