Human Capital Formation and Global Warming Mitigation: Evidence from an Integrated Assessment Model

27 Pages Posted: 29 Nov 2009

See all articles by Carlo Carraro

Carlo Carraro

Ca' Foscari University of Venice; CMCC - Euro Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (Climate Policy Division); IPCC; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute); Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels; Green Growth Knowledge Platform

Enrica De Cian

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM); CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici

Massimo Tavoni

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM); Princeton University - Princeton Environmental Institute

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Date Written: November 25, 2009

Abstract

Whereas the linkage between technology and climate policy has been extensively analysed, the interaction between climate policies and human capital formation has received considerably less attention. Human capital is a determinant of economic growth and, at the same time, it affects the efficiency of responses to climate change. Based on recent empirical evidence, this paper includes human capital and knowledge in a state-of-the art integrated assessment model. Introducing human capital makes it possible to assess the interplay between innovation, human capital, limate change, and education policies. Results indicate that climate policy stimulates a dedicated form of energy-knowledge without reducing generic R&D investments. Since advancements in labour productivity have a negative impact on the environment because labour is assumed to be complement to energy, climate policy reduces education investments, on which human capital is built. However, inspection of a policy mix combining climate and education targets shows that education and climate goals can be coupled incurring in small additional economic penalties. We thus provide evidence that apparently opposing policy goals can and should be pursued together. We also provide a preliminary investigation of knowledge stimulating education.

Keywords: Climate Policy, Innovation, Human capital

JEL Classification: O33, O41, Q43

Suggested Citation

Carraro, Carlo and De Cian, Enrica and Tavoni, Massimo, Human Capital Formation and Global Warming Mitigation: Evidence from an Integrated Assessment Model (November 25, 2009). University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Dept. of Economics Research Paper Series No. 30_09, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1513300 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1513300

Carlo Carraro (Contact Author)

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Enrica De Cian

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) ( email )

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CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici ( email )

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Massimo Tavoni

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) ( email )

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Italy

Princeton University - Princeton Environmental Institute

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