Summary
This paper, authored by economists and food systems researchers, examines whether meat is underpriced relative to its full social and environmental costs, and proposes a framework for optimal taxation. Drawing on evidence of externalities across climate, water, land use, antimicrobial resistance, and public health, the authors appear to develop a quantitative approach to setting meat taxes that internalise these costs. The work bridges economic theory with food systems evidence to inform policy design.
UK applicability
The analysis is directly relevant to UK policy discussions around meat taxation, carbon pricing, and subsidy reform. UK policymakers developing fiscal instruments to meet net-zero and health targets could draw on the optimal tax framework, though empirical parameters may require UK-specific calibration (consumer elasticities, production systems, externality costs).
Key measures
As suggested by the title: optimal meat tax rates; external costs of meat production (health, environmental, resource-based); price elasticity of meat demand; distributional effects of taxation.
Outcomes reported
The study examines the case for meat taxation as an economic policy instrument to internalise external costs of meat production and consumption. It appears to synthesise evidence on meat system externalities and optimal tax design across health, environmental, and resource dimensions.
Topic tags
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