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The Review of Economics and Statistics Vol. 67 No. 2 1985

Strategy and Market Structure in Western Coal Taxation

Charles D. Kolstad; Frank A. Wolak

Abstract

This paper analyzes the potential market power of western states in setting coal severance taxes and the emphasis placed by these states on the development of their coal resources vs. obtaining tax revenues. Three market structures are analyzed. One involves a western regional cartel, setting taxes collectively. The other cases are noncooperative tax equilibria with Montana and Wyoming competing against each other. We conclude that the western states seem to be primarily concerned with revenue collection and are very efficient extractors of economic rent.

DOI
10.2307/1924723
Volume
67
Issue
2
Pages
239
Sources
openalex crossref

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