Climate policy versus growth concerns: Suggestions for economic research and communication

Abstract

Climate change has revived the old debate on growth-vs-environment. In view of lack of definitive evidence for polarized pro- and anti-growth positions, I propose a different take on the debate which may provide new insights for designing climate policy to garner sufficient socio-political support. To this end, I explain a third position of being indifferent about economic growth – known as ‘agrowth’ – and argue it merits serious attention in education and research. In addition, I pay attention to how support for climate policy and views on growth-versus-environment are connected in a dynamic way. Better understanding of this may help to reduce resistance against climate policy that is motivated by growth concerns. To this end I propose a new framework, namely the policy-support cycle, which can be formally elaborated through a set of connect models and procedures. I end with providing a set of recommendations for the economic profession regarding participation in current debates on climate policy versus economic growth. Behavioural considerations will appear throughout the discussion as opinions about economic growth and climate policy by all stakeholders – citizens, journalists, scientists and policymakers – tend to be mediated by a variety of behavioural biases.