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Materials policy design

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Abstract

The life cycle of bulk materials is a source of significant environmental pollution. Scientists have recommended materials policies to reduce this pollution. This article discusses the differences between materials policies and other environmental policies. The regional environmental assessment program (REAP1) linear programming model has been developed to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of pricing and regulatory policy instruments in relation to petrochemicals. The model calculations suggest that a tax on materials consumption could have significant CO2 and waste co-benefits without a major decline in international competitiveness when foreign products are treated the same way as domestic products. As a consequence, a materials consumption tax could be a viable alternative for a CO2 tax.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan

    Dolf J. Gielen & Yuichi Moriguchi

Authors
  1. Dolf J. Gielen
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  2. Yuichi Moriguchi
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Gielen, D.J., Moriguchi, Y. Materials policy design. Environ Econ Policy Stud 5, 17–37 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03354022

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03354022

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