Energy, the environment, and technological change

David Popp, Richard G. Newell, Adam B. Jaffe

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/PoemChapter

364 Scopus citations

Abstract

Within the field of environmental economics, the role of technological change has received much attention. The long-term nature of many environmental problems, such as climate change, makes understanding the evolution of technology an important part of projecting future impacts. Moreover, in many cases, environmental problems cannot be addressed, or can only be addressed at great cost, using existing technologies. Providing incentives to develop new environmentally friendly technologies then becomes a focus of environmental policy. This chapter reviews the literature on technological change and the environment. Our goals are to introduce technological change economists to how the lessons of the economics of technological change have been applied in the field of environmental economics, and suggest ways in which scholars of technological change could contribute to the field of environmental economics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHandbook of the Economics of Innovation
PublisherElsevier
Pages873-937
Number of pages65
Edition1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

Publication series

NameHandbook of the Economics of Innovation
Number1
Volume2
ISSN (Print)2210-8807

Keywords

  • Climate change
  • Diffusion
  • Energy efficiency
  • Induced innovation
  • Pollution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Economics, Econometrics and Finance
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Energy, the environment, and technological change'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this