기후변화에 대한 대응: 탄소세의 도입과 설계

초록

Carbon tax, with its extensive foundation, has justification and its own benefits even though the tax rate may be small. In the aspects of simplicity, timing, comprehensiveness of coverage, revenue, cost certainty, signaling, and equity, it can be assessed that carbon tax is much more superior to emission trading. We must rethink whether the cap and trade is the best approach to solve global warming. This is because, carbon tax can be a better solution to reduce greenhouse gas for the future generations. However, policy priority and compatibility are two different matters. The idea that insists carbon tax is superior to the cap and trade does not necessarily argue that the two policies cannot coexist. The debate on which policy is superior to the other does not hold great significance in that the cap and trade is already set to be taken effect starting from 2015. However, I believe there still needs to be room for policy mixture. Although discussions on carbon tax are ignored due to political reasons today, it is highly possible that some day it will be acknowledged because it is the right policy. Discussions may start anytime soon. Thus, we must prepare to design for carbon tax. In this plan, we must consider matters on reducing externality, reducing the benefit(cutting down greenhouse gases) uncertainty, maintaining revenue neutrality, eliminating the negative effects of income redistribution, creating harmony with already existing systems (such as, the cap and trade and energy tax), raising industrial and international competitiveness, and overcoming political resistance.

키워드