Gernot left a link to Matt Kahn's 6 big questions in environmental economics. Since I'm so narrow thinking (if I'm thinking) I gobble this type of big-think stuff up. So, In my opinion the first four questions are huge and are wonderful suggestions for future research for any economist between the ages of 23 and ... some arbitrary upper cutoff ..., say, 44*:
- Learning by doing for renewable energy
- Measuring the costs of climate change
- The incidence of carbon pricing
- The potential for substitution of technological capital for natural capital
But, I have a quibble with the last two:
- What are the determinants of environmentalism?
- What is the price differential for green products and how is it affected by #1 in this list?
Both questions are interesting but not society changing. Matt kicks butt with his research into these areas, but the market may already be cornered.
*Note: Above this age? Please continue with your narrow research agenda until all of the young guns give you funny looks and snicker during your presentations at the conferences. Then stop and start a blog.