Public
Policy Analysis
Redefining Progress has deep expertise in the design of policies
to achieve environmental goals in ways that combine hard-headed
practicality, optimal efficiency, and fundamental fairness.
We apply the tools of skilled economists and lawyers, as well
as a hard-won understanding of how programs work and the ways
they can go wrong.
Our analysis recognizes that a healthy business community
is necessary for sustainability, and that policies are sustainable
only if they are distributionally just. Our policy analysis
generally considers:
- Ease of administration and enforcement
- Compliance burdens
- Economic efficiency and growth
- Environmental effectiveness
- Competitiveness concerns
- Equitable distribution of burdens and benefits
- Political and social sustainability
Depending on the area of analysis, we address the needs of
businesses, industries, regions, income classes, racial or
ethnic groups, and other as dimensions required. We have expertise
in presenting our analyses in styles appropriate to a wide
range of audiences and political contexts.
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Market-based
Approaches
Our staff has more than three decades of experience in analyzing
the use, potential, and limits of market-based approaches
to sustainability and environmental policy. We are second
to none in our knowledge of:
- Tradable permit systems
- Environmental fees, charges, and taxes
- Environmental tax reform
- Market-based natural resource policies
- Tax incentives
- Renewable content standards
- Other market-like policies
Redefining Progress has provided expert testimony in these
areas on contract to the governments of six nations.
Market-based approaches to achieving environmental quality
and sustainability, if well-designed, are unmatched in their
efficiency and effectiveness; but this relatively new class
of instruments is also rife with pitfalls for the unwary.
Moreover, a wide range of complicated interactions with other
economic and regulatory policies can undermine or amplify
their effectiveness.
At Redefining Progress, we understand these issues and can
help policymakers and advocates navigate their way into a
safe, fair, and prosperous harbor. Any effort to address a
major environmental problem with market-based approaches will
benefit from working with our consultants.
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Macroeconomic
Analysis
In today’s competitive landscape, concerns about the
economic impact of environmental policies become ever-more
compelling, and opponents of environmental policies are turning
to economic arguments to make their case—often through
hired-gun economists of dubious commitment to scientific truth.
The first line of defense against such abuse is a sound policy
package. But in addition to this, policymakers need sound,
reliable, and unbiased advice.
Redefining Progress offers recognized expertise in the environmental
community as a trusted and reliable analyst of macroeconomic
consequences arising from major environmental policies. This
includes the impact of such policies on:
- Employment, unemployment, and jobs
- Gross National Product, Gross State Product, or regional
output
- Salaries and wages
- Profits
- Prices and inflation
- Public revenues and expenditures
Our expertise in policy analysis enables us to define policy
packages that produce net economic benefits when modeled.
We do analysis at the national, state, or local level. Finally,
we have substantial experience in doing defensive analysis:
crafting clear, effective critiques of shoddy, anti-environmental
economic analysis.
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Distributional
and Social Justice Analysis
Redefining Progress is well-known for our commitment to quality
analytic support on issues of distributive justice. Too often,
the consequences of environmental impacts and policies are
hidden or ignored. As a result, the burden of pollution and
the cost of cleanup are disproportionately distributed.
In addition, unintended consequences often result from well-intentioned
policies when the distribution of costs and benefits across
firms, industries, regions, genders, family structures, income
classes, or social groups is not adequately considered and
accurately measured.
Redefining Progress defines policies that combine distributional,
economic, and environmental goals with careful, accurate,
reliable estimates of the distribution of burdens and benefits
from alternative policy approaches. We work closely with our
clients to ensure they have the tools they need to effectively
support sound public policy.
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Photo courtesy of Steven Erat |
