On effects of present-bias on carbon emission patterns towards a net zero target

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Albrecher, Hansjörg, Zhu, Jinxia
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866911243361583104
author Albrecher, Hansjörg
Zhu, Jinxia
author_facet Albrecher, Hansjörg
Zhu, Jinxia
contents This paper explores the optimal policy for using an allocated carbon emission budget over time with the objective to maximize profit, by explicitly taking into account present-biased preferences of decision-makers, accounting for time-inconsistent preferences. The setup can be adapted to be applicable for either a (present-biased) individual or also for a company which seeks a balance between production and emission schedules. In particular, we use and extend stochastic control techniques developed for optimal dividend strategies in insurance risk theory for the present purpose. The approach enables a quantitative analysis to assess the effects of present-bias, of sustainability awareness, and the efficiency of a potential carbon tax in a simplified model. In some numerical implementations, we illustrate in what way a higher degree of present-bias leads to excess emission patterns, while placing greater emphasis on sustainability reduces carbon emissions. Furthermore, we show that for low levels of carbon tax, its increase has a positive effect on curbing emissions, while beyond a certain threshold that marginal impact gets considerably weaker.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_27384
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle On effects of present-bias on carbon emission patterns towards a net zero target
Albrecher, Hansjörg
Zhu, Jinxia
Mathematical Finance
This paper explores the optimal policy for using an allocated carbon emission budget over time with the objective to maximize profit, by explicitly taking into account present-biased preferences of decision-makers, accounting for time-inconsistent preferences. The setup can be adapted to be applicable for either a (present-biased) individual or also for a company which seeks a balance between production and emission schedules. In particular, we use and extend stochastic control techniques developed for optimal dividend strategies in insurance risk theory for the present purpose. The approach enables a quantitative analysis to assess the effects of present-bias, of sustainability awareness, and the efficiency of a potential carbon tax in a simplified model. In some numerical implementations, we illustrate in what way a higher degree of present-bias leads to excess emission patterns, while placing greater emphasis on sustainability reduces carbon emissions. Furthermore, we show that for low levels of carbon tax, its increase has a positive effect on curbing emissions, while beyond a certain threshold that marginal impact gets considerably weaker.
title On effects of present-bias on carbon emission patterns towards a net zero target
topic Mathematical Finance
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.27384