Job displacement costs of phasing out coal

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Public Economics
Year: 2024
Volume: 236
Issue: C

Authors (4)

Rud, Juan-Pablo (not in RePEc) Simmons, Michael (Umeå Universitet) Toews, Gerhard Aragon, Fernando (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

The reduction of carbon emissions will require a rapid phasing out of coal and the displacement of millions of coal miners. How much could this energy transition cost mining workers? We use the dramatic collapse of the UK coal industry to estimate the long-term impact on displaced miners. We find evidence of substantial losses: hourly wages fell by 40% and earnings fell by 80% to 90% one year after job loss. These losses are persistent and remain significantly depressed fifteen years later, amounting to present discounted value earnings losses of between four and six times the miners pre-displacement earnings.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:pubeco:v:236:y:2024:i:c:s0047272724001038
Journal Field
Public
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-29