When industry compensation is offered to prevent relocation of regulated firms, efficiency requires that payments be distributed across firms so as to equalize marginal relocation probabilities, weighted by the damage caused by relocation. We formalize this fundamental economic logic and apply it to analyze industry compensation rules proposed under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which allocate permits for free to carbon and trade intensive industries. We estimate that this practice will result in overcompensation in the order of ?6.7 billion every year. Efficient allocation would reduce the aggregate risk of job loss by two thirds without increasing aggregate compensation.

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14 June 2012     Paper Number CEPDP1150

Download PDF - Industry Compensation Under Relocation Risk: A Firm-Level Analysis of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

This CEP discussion paper is published under the centre's Growth programme.