A review of the literature on environmental taxes, focusing on European experiences, and analysing how such taxes can contribute to green causes as well as reducing the tax burden from "ordinary" taxation. The authors examine the potential 'double dividend' from tax reform for helping the environment, reducing unemployment and encouraging growth.

In the today's global commercial society an inquiry into the economic role of government is gaining momentum. Many crucial goods for the wellbeing of a society are not commercial, national security and clean air are great examples. This means that the economic role of government is not limited to cure the so called market failures but it has to provide for non-commercial goods. Unfortunately in the last few decades the decline of the political-economic culture of western post-industrial societies has left scope for people to blindly believe in a free, deregulated market. This book brings the...