Intergenerational Equality versus Intragenerational Equality

Presenter

Sam Saunders

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Hernan D. Bejarano, Department of Resource Economics, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A40, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 2 (A21-A40) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

This study explores the global relationship between intergenerational and intragenerational equality. Intergenerational equality is wealth as distributed between generations and intragenerational equality is wealth distribution within a generation. Contemporary discussion of climate change suggests that it stands to erode intergenerational equality by yielding smaller distributions of wealth to coming generations. Carbon taxes are common policy initiatives that attempt to mitigate climate change and thus preserve intergenerational equality by limiting carbon consumption, the main catalyst for climate change. However, research suggests that despite potential benefits for intergenerational equality, a ubiquitous Carbon tax places disproportionate strain on the impoverished, exacerbating intragenerational inequality. The theory concludes that an inverse relationship exists between intergenerational equality and intragenerational equality or as one increases, the other decreases. This study aims to test this theory by conducting a regression analysis to evaluate the correlation of these two equality values. Using intergenerational equality as the independent variable and intragenerational equality as the dependent variable, this theory will be supported by a strong negative correlation. Drawing from the World Bank, this study selects global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita as a proxy for generational wealth and, thus, intergenerational inequality, and wealth deviation statistics as one for intragenerational inequality. If validated, this theory should force inequality-averse policymakers to rethink carbon taxation because heavily prioritizing one metric of equality may serve to harm the other. Accordingly, contemporary discussion on the issue of climate policy must expand to include intragenerational considerations.

Keywords

Intergenerational Equality, Intragenerational Equality, Climate Change, Carbon Tax, Regression Analysis

Research Area

Environmental Science and Sustainability

SIMILAR ABSTRACTS (BY KEYWORD)