In a general equilibrium model where individuals voluntarily provide offsets which compensate for degradation of environmental quality by consuming differentiated goods produced by monopolistically competitive firms, this paper examines how the population size affects the equilibrium levels of offsets and net contributions. The results depend on the specification of the utility function. However, when environmental quality converges to a finite level, the offsets are independent of this specification in a large economy with many individuals. Offsets are positive in the large economy, and “carbon neutrality” holds: Net contributions are zero. The comparative statics of parameters are also analyzed.

在一般的均衡模型中，个人通过消费垄断竞争性公司生产的差异商品来自愿提供补偿，以补偿环境质量的下降，本文研究了人口规模如何影响补偿和净贡献的均衡水平。结果取决于效用函数的规范。但是，当环境质量收敛到有限水平时，在有很多人的大型经济体中，补偿量与该规范无关。在大型经济体中，抵消是积极的，并且“碳中和”成立：净贡献为零。还分析了参数的比较静态。