Efficient introduction of Pigovian taxes

This paper considers the dynamics of introducing pollution taxes when firms have to invest into abatement facilities. This accumulation of abatement capital, however, proceeds sluggishly. Therefore, actual policy proposals of pollution taxes consider a phased introduction. This paper considers the normative aspects of such a policy. More precisely, it proves that pollution taxes should be introduced radically rather than gradually. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1994