In: Economics
Compare Pigouvian tax levied on input, output, emissions, or use of technology
Pigouvian tax is the tax that is
paid to the government as a compensation to the negative
externality being created by excess production of output and
resulting emission beyond the permissible limits, it is used to
curb the output level and by that, inputs used for the production
and emission released in the form of pollutants are controlled. In
contrast to it, use of technology helps to produce the same level
of output, but reduced level of emission as pollution. So, clean
and green technology is preferred to reduce the pollutants being
released. Here, investment in technology is done by the firm and it
is a one time investment other than and M&O cost if any. But,
Pigouvian tax is recurring in nature. Each time a production level
exceeds, then tax is applied.
Further, the use of technology directly benefits to the society,
but Pigouvian tax goes to the government and the government runs
program to reduce the pollution that is already created. So, the
benefits due to tax, is delivered indirectly.