Objective Problems to be solvedThe project is the first to examine the responses of grassroots stakeholders to ecological tax reform (ETR) policies and proposals. Although ETR is widely accepted to be a policy with desirable environmental, economic and employment effects, its implementation has been limited by problems with political acceptability, which this project addresses. Scientific objectives and approach The objective is to develop proposals to improve the design of ecological tax reform (ETR) policies to maximise their political acceptability while still attempting to meet the environmental, economic and employment objectives behind ETR.The project aims to examine the attitudes of business and the general public towards ETR policies in five member states (Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom). The six specific objectives are:1) To assess the patterns of awareness of ETR policies2) To gauge the understanding of the intentions behind ETR in terms of environment and employment3) To assess patterns of support or hostility towards specific policies and the general principles of ETR4) To identify specific objections to these policies and principles5) To assess what sort of ETR design would be regarded most favourably6) To assess how far that design might compromise the effectiveness in meeting environmental, economic and employment objectives. The project methodology is based around the use of interviews and focus groups to inform the assessment of social responses to ETR policies and the development of improved designs for them. Qualitative methods have been chosen because these in-depth social research methods are the most appropriate means of uncovering the thinking processes underlying attitudes expressed.Expected impactsThe results of the national studies are integrated into a European report developing proposals to improve the design of ETR policies in order to maximise their political acceptability while still attempting to meet the objectives behind ETR. The outputs of the project include national and European reports, national and European seminars and a series of policy briefs aimed at decision-makers. Fields of science social sciencessociologygovernancetaxationsocial sciencespolitical sciencespolitical policiescivil societysocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemployment Programme(s) FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002" Topic(s) 1.1.4.-7. - RTD activities of a generic nature Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF SURREY EU contribution No data Address GUILDFORD United Kingdom See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all AKF - INSTITUTE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUDIES Denmark EU contribution No data Address 37,Nyropsgade 37 1602 KOEBENHAVN V See on map Total cost No data ASSOCIATION POUR LA RECHERCHE ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT DES METHODES ET PROCESSUS INDUSTRIELS France EU contribution No data Address Boulevard Saint-Michel 60 75272 PARIS See on map Total cost No data ECOLE NATIONALE SUPÉRIEURE DES MINES DE PARIS France EU contribution No data Address Boulevard Saint Michel 60 75272 PARIS See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN Ireland EU contribution No data Address Clonskeagh Drive Richveiw 14 DUBLIN See on map Total cost No data WUPPERTAL INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Germany EU contribution No data Address 19,Doeppersberg 19 42103 WUPPERTAL See on map Total cost No data