Trace identities and almost polynomial growth

In this paper we study algebras with trace and their trace polynomial identities over a field of characteristic 0. We consider two commutative matrix algebras: $D_2$, the algebra of $2\times 2$ diagonal matrices and $C_2$, the algebra of $2 \times 2$ matrices generated by $e_{11}+e_{22}$ and $e_{12}$. We describe all possible traces on these algebras and we study the corresponding trace codimensions. Moreover we characterize the varieties with trace of polynomial growth generated by a finite dimensional algebra. As a consequence, we see that the growth of a variety with trace is either polynomial or exponential.