We study the optimal quota sequence, in a stationary environment, where a regulator and a non-strategic firm have asymmetric information. The regulator is able to learn about the unknown cost parameter by using a quota that is slack with positive probability. It is never optimal for the...

Natural resources such as carbon, water, and fish are increasingly managed with markets that require an initial allocation of property rights. In practice these rights are typically grandfathered based on historical use, but rights could be allocated any number of ways. Taking the perspective of...

Environmental regulators often have imperfect information about regulated firms' abatement costs. In this paper we compare taxes and emissions permits in a dynamic setting in which firms behave strategically. The regulator updates policy over time based upon previous aggregate industry...

For reducing greenhouse gas emissions, intensity targets are attracting interest as a flexible mechanism that would better allow for economic growth than emissions caps. For the same expected emissions, however, the economic responses to unexpected productivity shocks differ. Using a real...