The ultimate externality.

A discussion of childbearing choices and externalities in a two-generation model of a competitive economy with a pollution externality created by the aggregate consumption of one of two goods. The mixture of a narrow intergenerational concern and a public bad externality gives rise to the result tha...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:American Economic Review Vol. 88; no. 1; pp. 260 - 266
Autor principal: Harford, Jon D.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: American Economic Association March 1998
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:A discussion of childbearing choices and externalities in a two-generation model of a competitive economy with a pollution externality created by the aggregate consumption of one of two goods. The mixture of a narrow intergenerational concern and a public bad externality gives rise to the result that Pareto efficiency requires not just Pigovian pollution taxes but also a tax per child. The size of this tax approximately equals the present value of the pollution taxes that each descendant will pay. In this instance, as the parent chose to have the child, she should be charged for the externality created by her child.