Optimum Commodity Taxation with a Non-Renewable Resource

Abstract

Under standard assumptions, optimum commodity taxation (OCT) should target non-renewable resources (NRRs) in priority. NRRs should be taxed at a higher rate than otherwise-identical conventional commodities. NRR substitutes and complements should receive a particular tax treatment. When reserves are endogenous, OCT for NRRs distorts both developed reserves, which are reduced, and their depletion, which is slowed down. Reserves are a form of capital and royalties tax its income: our results contradict Chamley’s conclusion that capital should not be taxed in the long run. In a NRR-importing economy, Ramsey taxes are further increased because they allow the capture of foreign rents.

Keywords: optimum commodity taxation, inverse elasticity rule, non-renewable resources, Hotelling resource, supply elasticity, demand elasticity, capital income taxation

JEL Classification: Q310, Q380, H210