Analysis of a Carbon Tax as a Potential Instrument for Reducing Carbon Emissions in the Context of the Czech Republic’s Economic Policy after 2024

This thesis evaluates the carbon tax as one of the potential instruments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Czech Republic after 2024. It combines a review of academic literature and a comparison of international experiences with carbon taxation, including an analysis of time series of emissions and key macroeconomic indicators. The work also includes a model-based assessment of the tax’s impact on energy prices, public finances, and selected household groups, as well as an overview of the relevant Czech legislative framework. A questionnaire survey identifies the main public concerns, particularly the risk of rising living costs and insufficient awareness of the tax’s purpose. The results indicate that a carbon tax could have the potential to contribute to the gradual reduction of emissions in the Czech context, provided that revenues are used transparently for modernization investments and targeted compensation. The final recommendations therefore suggest introducing the tax only on the basis of thorough economic and social analysis, with clear communication of its objectives, benefits, and risks, in order to ensure the long-term effectiveness and political acceptability of this instrument.