KDI Journal of Economic Policy (Jun 2012)
Externality Cost of Capital Investment in Limited Commitment
Abstract
We study externality costs of capital investment under limited commitment. We solve for the constrained efficient allocation with a limited commitment environment and find positive externality costs of capital investment provided that full-risk-sharing is not feasible. In a decentralized version of limited commitment environment, a one unit increase of capital investment by an agent increases all individuals’ autarky values in the economy and generates externality costs in the economy. This externality cost provides a rationale for positive capital taxation even in the absence of government expenditure. In order to internalize this costs, the government use a positive rate of linear capital tax in the decentralized economy.
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