Dr Alex Bowen
Principal Research Fellow
Background
Before joining the London School of Economics and Political Science, Alex worked at the Bank of England, most recently as a Senior Policy Adviser. Alex’s current research interests were stimulated by his sabbatical year away from the Bank working as senior economic adviser to ‘The Economics of Climate Change: the Stern Review’.
Alex has been working recently with the OECD on inclusive labour markets and green growth and also on the impact of the environment on long-run productivity growth. Dr Bowen has also been a consultant to the World Bank, EBRD, Asian Development Bank Institute, UK DFID and UK DECC.
Alex graduated in economics from Clare College, Cambridge, and received a PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied as a Kennedy Scholar.
Research interests
- The macroeconomic aspects of climate-change and other environmental policies
- The labour-market aspects of climate-change and other environmental policies
- ‘Green’ growth
- The design of policy regimes for tackling harmful climate change
- Climate finance
Prospective PhD students
Alex welcomes applications from prospective PhD students with a background in economics who have an interest in the macroeconomic and/or labour-market aspects of climate-change, green-growth and other environmental policies.
– Visit the ‘Study with us’ page for further information on applying to be a PhD student with us.
‘Climate value at risk’ of global financial assets
Investors and financial regulators are increasingly aware of climate change risks. So far, most of the attention has fallen on whether controls on carbon emissions will strand the … read more »
2015
An ‘equal effort’ approach to assessing the North–South climate finance gap
This study employs a number of Integrated Assessment Models to determine what the optimal financial transfers between high-income and developing economies would be if climate mitigation effort, measured as mitigation costs as a share of gross domestic product, were to be divided equally across regions through a global carbon market. read more »
The ‘optimal and equitable’ climate finance gap
This study uses a number of Integrated Assessment Models to determine what the optimal financial transfers between high-income and developing economies would be if climate mitigation costs were to be divided equally across regions. read more »
2014
Post-2020 climate agreements in the major economies assessed in the light of global models
Integrated assessment models can help in quantifying the implications of international climate agreements and regional climate action. This paper reviews scenario results from model intercomparison projects to explore different possible … read more »
Green growth: an assessment
‘Green growth’ is almost tautologically required for global welfare to rise in the long run. Economic growth is desirable, not least because over 1 billion people still live in conditions … read more »
Green growth
Ch. 15 in Atkinson, G., Dietz, S., Neumayer, E., and M. Agarwala (Ed.s) (2014): Handbook of sustainable development, 2nd edition, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK. ISBN 978 1 78254 469 2. … read more »
The Global Development of Policy Regimes to Combat Climate Change
This book focuses on the prospects for global agreement on climate change, how to encourage compliance with any such agreement and perspectives of key players in the negotiations. read more »
A macroeconomic perspective on climate change mitigation: Meeting the financing challenge
Building on simulations using Integrated Assessment Models and historical evidence, this paper explores some of the issues posed by this dual financing challenge. We discuss the "fiscal self-reliance" of the energy sector, finding that carbon pricing would generate sufficient fiscal revenues within each region to finance total investment in energy supply. read more »
2013
Who will win the green race? In search of environmental competitiveness and innovation
Fankhauser, Samuel, Bowen, Alex, Calel, Raphael, Dechezlepretre, Antoine, Grover, David, Rydge, James and Sato, Misato (2013) Who will win the green race? In search of environmental competitiveness and innovation. Global … read more »
A macroeconomic perspective on climate change mitigation: Meeting the financing challenge
– Forthcoming in Climate Change Economics (August 2014) (read article) Transitioning to a low-carbon economy will require significant investment to transform energy systems, alter the built … read more »
Prosperity with Growth: Economic Growth, Climate Change and Environmental Limits
Bowen, Alex and Hepburn, Cameron. 2013. Chapter in Handbook On Energy And Climate Change
Low-Carbon Green Growth in Asia: Policies and Practices
Joint study by the Asian Development Bank and Asian Development Bank Institute. read more »
2012
'Green growth': what does it mean?
What is green growth? read more »
Who will win the green race? In search of environmental competitiveness and innovation
As the world considers greener forms of economic growth, countries and sectors are beginning to position themselves for the emerging green economy. This paper combines patent … read more »
Prosperity with growth: economic growth, climate change and environmental limits
Debate about the relationship between environmental limits and economic growth has been taking place for several decades. These arguments have re-emerged with greater intensity following advances … read more »
‘Green’ growth, ‘green’ jobs and labour markets
‘Green’ growth, ‘green’ jobs and labour markets read more »
2011
The green growth narrative: paradigm shift or just spin?
Reference Bowen, A., and Fankhauser, S. October 2011. The green growth narrative: paradigm shift or just spin? Global Environmental Change, v.21, pp.1157-1159. External link to full article|
Raising finance to support developing country action: some economic considerations
This article explores the principles that should guide efforts to raise finance for climate action in developing countries. The main conclusions are that, first, there is an important role … read more »
Low-carbon development for the least developed countries
The contribution of the least developed countries (LDCs) to the greenhouse gas problem is very small. LDCs accounted for just over 4% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in … read more »
Raising finance to support developing country action: some economic considerations
This article explores the principles that should guide efforts to raise finance for climate action in developing countries. The main conclusions are that:First, there is an … read more »
2010
Environmental policy and the economic downturn
This paper considers how environmental policies should respond to macroeconomic downturns. It first explores the implications of the global economic downturn of 2008–9 for environmental policies, focusing in particular … read more »
Environment policy and the economic downturn
We consider how environmental policies should respond to macroeconomic downturns. We first explore the implications of the global economic downturn of 2008-2009 for environmental policies, focusing, … read more »
The effects of climate change on financial stability, with particular reference to Sweden
This report is part of Finansinspektionen´s (FI’s) response to a request from the Swedish government to “Analyse and in a written report outline how environmental and climate change may affect … read more »
‘Green growth’ and the new Industrial Revolution
This policy brief summarises the main policy implications of a two-year research programme, sponsored by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), which aimed to contribute to the growing evidence base on green growth. read more »
2015
Carbon pricing: how best to use the revenue?
Headline issue Putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions – carbon pricing – is a powerful tool to encourage reductions in emissions and innovations in low-carbon technologies across all sectors of … read more »
Looking for green jobs: the impact of green growth on employment
Assessing the consequences of environmental policies for employment presents a considerable challenge, and at present it is not possible for policy-makers to assess conflicting claims about the quality and quantity of green jobs that have already been created, or may be created in the future. read more »
2014
The US and Action on Climate Change
Bowen, Alex, 2014. Chapter in: The Global Development of Policy Regimes to Combat Climate Change, World Scientific Publishing. Link to publisher
The Scope for “Green Growth” and a New Technological Revolution
Bowen, Alex, 2014. Chapter in: The Global Development of Policy Regimes to Combat Climate Change, World Scientific Publishing. Link to publisher
2013
Energy use policies and carbon pricing in the UK
Energy use policies and carbon pricing in the UK read more »
2011
Climate change policy in the United Kingdom
The Grantham Research Institute for Climate Change and the Environment and the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP) have published a policy paper, originally commissioned as a working … read more »
The Economics of Climate Change
Alex Bowen and James Rydge, 2011. Chapter in: The Governance of Climate Change: Science, Politics and Ethics Link to publisher
2010
Mitigating climate change through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions: is it possible to limit global warming to no more than 1.5°C?
The Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are contemplating a range of goals for limiting the rise in global average temperature that is … read more »
2009
Mitigating climate change through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions: the science and economics of future paths for global annual emissions
Mitigating climate change through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions: the science and economics of future paths for global annual emissions read more »
Meeting the Climate Challenge: Using Public Funds to Leverage Private Investment in Developing Countries
‘Meeting the Climate Challenge: Using Public Funds to Leverage Private Investment in Developing Countries’ is the output of a public/private discussion coordinated by Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair of the Grantham … read more »
Towards a Global Green Recovery: recommendations for immediate G20 action
Nico Bauer (PIK), Alex Bowen (GRI, LSE), Steffen Brunner (PIK), Ottmar Edenhofer (PIK), Christian Flachsland (PIK ), Michael Jakob ( PIK ) and Nicholas Stern ( GRI LSE ), April … read more »
An outline of the case for a 'green' stimulus
Alex Bowen, Samuel Fankhauser, Nicholas Stern and Dimitri Zenghelis
Sovereign funds ignore climate risk
Financial Times, 1 May
The Data Says Climate Change Could Cost Investors Trillions
Harvard Business Review, 14 April
Global warming risks trillions: Study
CNBC, 5 April
Climate change could cost the world £1.8tn if left unchecked
The Week, 5 April
Climate change will wipe $2.5tn off global financial assets: study
Guardian, 4 April
2015
The $100 Billion Key to a Global Deal at UN Climate Change Talks
Bloomberg, 3 December
Study: Green revenues could help tackle the deficit
BusinessGreen, 9 November
‘Green revenues’ could help fund public spending and pay off national debts
EurActiv, 9 November
A cost-effective balance between taxes on fossil fuel pollution and support for cleaner alternatives
There is a danger that the current tinkering to subsidies and taxes affecting renewables in the UK will result in incoherence that will hinder efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. read more »
2012
‘Green’ growth, ‘green’ jobs and labor markets
Much of the attraction of ‘green’ growth to politicians and policy-makers is the apparent promise of job creation. Many developing countries face the prospect of rapidly growing labor forces, so … read more »
Putting the case forward
Carbon Trading (March issue; pages 34-35)
2011
Green growth: paradigm shift or just spin?
There is much talk at the moment about green growth – environmentally sustainable, biodiverse, low-carbon and climate-resilient growth in human prosperity. Climate & Development Knowledge Network
Climate pragmatism or climate illusion?
With the Republican Party and a good many Democrats currently opposed to sanctioning any meaningful reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, United States climate policy, at least at federal level, appears … read more »
Why the EU should be cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020
On 5 July 2011, the European Parliament will be asked to endorse an increase in the European Union’s target for greenhouse gas reductions, from 20 to 30 per cent by 2020 … read more »
Why the EU should be cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020
On 5 July 2011, the European Parliament will be asked to endorse an increase in the European Union’s target for greenhouse gas reductions, from 20 to 30 per cent by … read more »
Grantham staff contribute to OECD’s Economic Survey of the United Kingdom 2011
The OECD report concluded that, "to meet ambitious climate change targets [in the UK] and reduce emissions, higher and more consistent carbon prices are needed. Climate change is a global challenge, and working for higher, more broadly based and stable carbon prices within the European Union should be a priority." read more »
2010
Temperature goals heat China climate talks
The Conservative party conference in Birmingham may be the focus of UK politics this week, but government representatives will be taking part in crucial discussions in China that could have … read more »
Joint Critique of Bjørn Lomborg's Pronouncements on Climate Change
The Guardian, 2 September 2010
Still wary of Bjørn Lomborg's pronouncements on climate change
Bjørn Lomborg’s change of mind on climate change is welcome, and some of his suggestions good, but your glowing review of his new book failed to examine deeply his shift … read more »
2015
Green Growth and the New Industrial Revolution
Keynote Speakers Professor Cameron Hepburn, University of Oxford and Grantham Research Institute Simon Upton, Environment Director, OECD Chairs Professor Dame Judith Rees, Grantham Research Institute Professor Sam Fankhauser, Grantham Research … read more »
2014
A post-growth society for the 21st century. Does prosperity have to wait for the return of economic growth?
Grantham Research Institute hosted a policy seminar in collaboration with IDDRI. Lucas Chancel presented the key findings of A post-growth society for the 21st century by IDDRI. The … read more »
2012
International Climate Finance
Downloads Financing needs Chair: Richard Green, Imperial College Erik Haites (Magree) ‘Funding needs for mitigation’ Paul Watkiss (SEI) ‘Future funding needs: adaptation’ Morgan Hervé-Mignucci (CPI Venice) ‘Current funding: the landscape … read more »
The Global Development Post-Durban Of Policy Regimes To Combat Climate Change
Hosted by the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP) and Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE) Downloads The outlook for international climate-change mitigation policies post-Durban Professor Nicholas … read more »
2014
Green growth
Ch. 15 in Atkinson, G., Dietz, S., Neumayer, E., and M. Agarwala (Ed.s) (2014): Handbook of sustainable development, 2nd edition, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK. ISBN 978 1 78254 469 2. … read more »
The Global Development of Policy Regimes to Combat Climate Change
This book focuses on the prospects for global agreement on climate change, how to encourage compliance with any such agreement and perspectives of key players in the negotiations. read more »
2013
Low-Carbon Green Growth in Asia: Policies and Practices
Joint study by the Asian Development Bank and Asian Development Bank Institute. read more »
