This paper explores the role for economic instruments in the control of global warming. It begins with a review of what theory and practice have taught us about these instruments--pollution taxes and systems of transferable permits--in the pursuit of domestic environmental management. It then...

This paper develops and parameterizes an overarching analytical framework to estimate the welfare effects of energy efficiency standards applied to automobiles and electricity-using durables. We also compare standards with sectoral and economywide pricing policies. The model captures a wide...

Discusses fiscal decentralization and economic development in developed and developing countries. Explores historical trends in fiscal centralization and puts them in context of the developing countries.

In this paper, I want to review this evolution of the theory of fiscal federalism and offer some thoughts on the implications of these new views for the structure and functioning of federal fiscal systems. This will provide an opportunity to draw on the comparative experience of certain...

Analyzes the impact of property tax reform in Pittsburgh (1979-1980), which dramatically increased the tax rate applied to land (but not structures). Explores the impact of this tax reform on the economic development of the city.

Uses aggregate time-series data to explore state and local budgetary responses to cuts in federal grant programs. Finds that the "flypaper effect" is two-way (spending falls in response to cuts by about the same magnitude as it rises in response to grant increases).

Economic competition among governments, making use of both fiscal and regulatory policy instruments, is the subject of great concern on both sides of the Atlantic, for fear that it gives rise to a "race to the bottom" resulting in levels of public services that are too low. This paper explores...

In his State of the Union address, President Reagan identified the basic premise of the New Federalism: During the past 20 years, what had been a classic division of functions between the Federal Government and the States and localities has become a confused mess. Traditional understandings...

Working Paper No. 90 is published as "Fiscal Limitations: An Assessment of the U.S. Experience". In Edward M. Gramlich and Bengt-Christer Ysander (eds.), Control of Local Covernment. IUI Conference Reports 1985:1. Stockholm: Industrial Institute for Economic and Social Research, 1985.

Despite calls for more integrated residual management, research on the performance of methods to regulate pollution has paid little attention to cases of multiple pollutant control. This study helps rectify this omission in multiple ways. In Chapter 1 I describe the many issues that arise in the...