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Towards a Circular Economy Taxation Framework : Expectations and Challenges of Implementation

Milios, Leonidas LU (2021) In Circular Economy and Sustainability 1(2). p.477-498
Abstract
The transition to a circular economy is a complex process requiring wide multi-level and multi-stakeholder engagement and can be facilitated by appropriate policy interventions. Taking stock of the importance of a well-balanced policy mix that includes a variety of complementing policy instruments, the circular economy action plan of the European Union (COM(2020) 98 final) includes a section about “getting the economics right” in which it encourages the application of economic instruments. This contribution presents a comprehensive taxation framework, applied across the life cycle of products. The framework includes (1) a raw material resource tax, (2) reuse/repair tax relief, and (3) a waste hierarchy tax at the end of life of products.... (More)
The transition to a circular economy is a complex process requiring wide multi-level and multi-stakeholder engagement and can be facilitated by appropriate policy interventions. Taking stock of the importance of a well-balanced policy mix that includes a variety of complementing policy instruments, the circular economy action plan of the European Union (COM(2020) 98 final) includes a section about “getting the economics right” in which it encourages the application of economic instruments. This contribution presents a comprehensive taxation framework, applied across the life cycle of products. The framework includes (1) a raw material resource tax, (2) reuse/repair tax relief, and (3) a waste hierarchy tax at the end of life of products. The research is based on a mixed method approach, using different sources to analyse the different measures in the framework. More mature concepts, such as material resource taxes, are analysed by reviewing the existing literature. The analysis of tax relief on repairs is based on interviews with stakeholders in Sweden, where this economic policy instrument has been implemented since 2017. Finally, for the waste hierarchy tax, which is a novel proposition in this contribution, macroeconomic modelling is used to analyse potential impacts of future implementation. In all cases, several implementation challenges are identified, and potential solutions are discussed according to literature and empirical sources. Further research is required both at the individual instrument and at the framework level. Each of the tax proposals needs a more detailed examination for its specificities of implementation, following the results of this study. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
circular economy, economic policy, resources tax, resource efficiency, waste tax
in
Circular Economy and Sustainability
volume
1
issue
2
pages
477 - 498
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85100833698
ISSN
2730-5988
DOI
10.1007/s43615-020-00002-z
project
Resource-Efficient and Effective Solutions based on Circular Economy Thinking - Phase 2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
815bd591-252a-4fd7-8d0b-794ff220c7db
date added to LUP
2021-01-21 22:20:31
date last changed
2023-11-01 04:15:18
@article{815bd591-252a-4fd7-8d0b-794ff220c7db,
  abstract     = {{The transition to a circular economy is a complex process requiring wide multi-level and multi-stakeholder engagement and can be facilitated by appropriate policy interventions. Taking stock of the importance of a well-balanced policy mix that includes a variety of complementing policy instruments, the circular economy action plan of the European Union (COM(2020) 98 final) includes a section about “getting the economics right” in which it encourages the application of economic instruments. This contribution presents a comprehensive taxation framework, applied across the life cycle of products. The framework includes (1) a raw material resource tax, (2) reuse/repair tax relief, and (3) a waste hierarchy tax at the end of life of products. The research is based on a mixed method approach, using different sources to analyse the different measures in the framework. More mature concepts, such as material resource taxes, are analysed by reviewing the existing literature. The analysis of tax relief on repairs is based on interviews with stakeholders in Sweden, where this economic policy instrument has been implemented since 2017. Finally, for the waste hierarchy tax, which is a novel proposition in this contribution, macroeconomic modelling is used to analyse potential impacts of future implementation. In all cases, several implementation challenges are identified, and potential solutions are discussed according to literature and empirical sources. Further research is required both at the individual instrument and at the framework level. Each of the tax proposals needs a more detailed examination for its specificities of implementation, following the results of this study.}},
  author       = {{Milios, Leonidas}},
  issn         = {{2730-5988}},
  keywords     = {{circular economy; economic policy; resources tax; resource efficiency; waste tax}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{477--498}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Circular Economy and Sustainability}},
  title        = {{Towards a Circular Economy Taxation Framework : Expectations and Challenges of Implementation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s43615-020-00002-z}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s43615-020-00002-z}},
  volume       = {{1}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}