Example Research Questions for ACT

Example Research Questions for ACT
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Economics: Reducing Emissions via Economic Policy
Massively reducing greenhouse gas emissions is key to reducing the impact of global warming.
However, the short-term gain of this for greenhouse gas producers is minimal. How can we incentivize countries and corporations to reduce their emissions?
Countries and corporations can be incentivized to reduce their emissions by carbon capping, measuring carbon footprint, and standing up against tar sands, coal, and fossil fuels. Carbon capping refers to a policy which sets a price on the emission of carbon dioxide by auctioning permits to emit the gas (Barnes, 2007, pg. 12). Each corporation or large-scale emitter must adhere to the limit on the amount of carbon dioxide it can emit. Further, for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted, the corporation must have an “emission permit.” Emission permits set a cap on the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that firms are allowed to emit, and, as time advances, these limits become stricter, allowing less and less pollution (Barnes, 2007, pg. 7).
Measuring carbon footprint refers to the assessment of how much pollution a corporation’s actions generate. By measuring carbon footprint, corporations can begin to see how altering a few policies can drastically reduce the overall carbon footprint. Countries can also incentivize carbon dioxide reduction by shunning the use of tar sands, coal, and fossil fuels. Consequently, this results in the usage of more sustainable energy sources, such as solar, hydro, and wind power, which help reduce carbon dioxide emissions greatly.
There are two common types of such a policy: a ‘Carbon Tax’ or ‘Cap and Trade’. For these questions, you will explore the application of calculus in economics to one of these policies.
Carbon Tax
• How much does a carbon tax decrease CO2 emissions?
As asserted by (Chandler, 2018), by setting a $50 carbon tax for each ton, and increasing it by five percent each year, the result is a sixty-three percent reduction in the overall greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
• How does a carbon tax impact demand for fossil fuels?
A carbon tax increases the cost of fossil fuels, thus encouraging corporations to start using costlier (but cleaner) fuels and encouraging corporations and households to reduce the use of energy. These factors cause the economy to be less reliant on fossil fuels thus cutting fossil fuel consumption (Aldy et al., 2012, pg. 3).
• What is the incidence of ...