Modelling as Agit-prop: The Treasury’s Role in Australia’s Carbon Tax Debate

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Author(s)
Ergas, Henry
Robson, Alex
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2012
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This paper examines the modelling undertaken by the Commonwealth Treasury of the costs of an Australian emissions trading scheme, published in 'Strong Growth, Low Pollution'. Despite its considerable technical sophistication, we argue that this modelling is primarily an exercise in propaganda: 'the systematic dissemination of selected information to promote a particular doctrine' (Oxford English Dictionary). That propaganda role determined the limited range of questions asked in the modelling, the myriad unrealistic assumptions made in answering those questions, and the limitations imposed on third-party access to the model ...
View more >This paper examines the modelling undertaken by the Commonwealth Treasury of the costs of an Australian emissions trading scheme, published in 'Strong Growth, Low Pollution'. Despite its considerable technical sophistication, we argue that this modelling is primarily an exercise in propaganda: 'the systematic dissemination of selected information to promote a particular doctrine' (Oxford English Dictionary). That propaganda role determined the limited range of questions asked in the modelling, the myriad unrealistic assumptions made in answering those questions, and the limitations imposed on third-party access to the model and data.
View less >
View more >This paper examines the modelling undertaken by the Commonwealth Treasury of the costs of an Australian emissions trading scheme, published in 'Strong Growth, Low Pollution'. Despite its considerable technical sophistication, we argue that this modelling is primarily an exercise in propaganda: 'the systematic dissemination of selected information to promote a particular doctrine' (Oxford English Dictionary). That propaganda role determined the limited range of questions asked in the modelling, the myriad unrealistic assumptions made in answering those questions, and the limitations imposed on third-party access to the model and data.
View less >
Journal Title
Agenda
Volume
19
Issue
2
Publisher URI
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2012. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. For information about this journal please refer to the journal’s website or contact the authors.
Subject
Environment and Resource Economics
Applied Economics
Banking, Finance and Investment
Policy and Administration