Interactions between State and Federal Climate Change Policies

by Lawrence H. Goulder and Robert N. Stavins

- Federal action addressing climate change is likely to emerge either through new legislation or via the U.S. EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act. The prospect of federal action raises important questions regarding the interconnections between federal efforts and state-level climate policy developments. In the presence of federal policies, to what extent will state efforts be cost-effective? How does the co-existence of state- and federal-level policies affect the ability of state efforts to achieve emissions reductions? This paper addresses these questions.

Goulder, L.H. and R.N. Stavins (2010). "Interactions between State and Federal Climate Change Policies." NBER Working Paper No. 16123, Jun 2010.