Authors
Pierre Cariou, Ronald A Halim, Bradley J Rickard
Publication date
2023/10/1
Journal
Ecological Economics
Volume
212
Pages
107917
Publisher
Elsevier
Description
We consider the effects of a maritime bunker levy on ship-owner profits, trade, and emissions. Standard and augmented gravity models are employed using data from 2016 to estimate the impact of a change in transit time and transit cost on grain and soybean trade flows and on vessel speed. Results for a bunker levy of 50 USD per tonne of fuel, or less, stress that it will not trigger a change in the optimal speed of the vessel which is contrary to most theoretical models that predict an increase in fuel costs will always lead to a reduction in speed and carbon emissions. Bunker levies exceeding 100 USD per tonne may be needed to reduce carbon emissions when trade flows are sensitive to trade costs and transport time, as may be the case for many agricultural commodities.
Total citations
20222023202415
Scholar articles