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on Energy Economics |
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Issue of 2012‒10‒27
twenty-six papers chosen by Roger Fouquet Basque Climate Change Centre, Bilbao, Spain |
| By: | Schafer, Andreas |
| Abstract: | Transportation is vital to economic and social development, but at the same time generates undesired consequences on local, regional, and global scales. One of the largest challenges is the mitigation of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, to which this sector already contributes one-quarter globally and one-third in the United States. Technology measures are the prerequisite for drastically mitigating energy use and all emission species, but they are not sufficient. The resulting need for complementing technology measures with behavioral change policies contrasts sharply with the analyses carried out by virtually all energy / economy / environment (E3) models, given their focus on pure technology-based solutions. This paper addresses the challenges for E3 models to simulate behavioral changes in transportation. A survey of 13 major models concludes that especially hybrid energy models would already be capable of simulating some behavioral change policies, most notably the imposition of the full marginal societal costs of transportation. Another survey of major macroscopic transportation models finds that key specifications required for simulating behavioral change have already been implemented and tested, albeit not necessarily on a global scale. When integrating these key features into E3 models, a wide range of technology and behavioral change policies could be analyzed. |
| Keywords: | Transport Economics Policy&Planning,Environmental Economics&Policies,Climate Change Economics,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Roads&Highways |
| Date: | 2012–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6234&r=ene |
| By: | Kusaka, Wakana; Kojima, Michikazu; Watanabe, Mariko |
| Abstract: | In developing economies, consumption of electricity in residential and commercial sectors increased with economic development. In order to identify the factors for effective facilitation of standard and labeling programs, this article explores factors that affect consumer choice to energy-efficient products. Main findings are as follows: (1)Consumers in Thailand shows the highest awareness to environmental friendly concepts, followed by India and China.(2) Chosen labeled products include air-conditioners, TVs, refrigerators and washing machines, but not some popular products such as ceiling fans, electric fans or mobile phones. (3) Consumer who has higher energy conservation perception will buy energy efficient products.(4) Consumers in China, India and Thailand are sensitive to energy efficiency of products, primarily because they lead to less expenditure on electricity. (5) Labeling works to make levels of the energy efficiency of products more visible and thus helped consumers to choose the products. |
| Keywords: | Asia, Thailand, China, India, Electric industries, Environmental problems, Energy, Consumers, Consciousness, Labeling, Energy Efficiency Reference |
| JEL: | D12 L15 L68 Q41 |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper345&r=ene |
| By: | Hassler, John; Krusell, Per; Olovsson, Conny |
| Abstract: | We estimate an aggregate production function with constant elasticity of substitution between energy and a capital/labor composite using U.S. data. The implied measure of energy-saving technical change appears to respond strongly to the oil-price shocks in the 1970s and has a negative medium-run correlation with capital/labor-saving technical change. Our findings are suggestive of a model of directed technical change, with low short-run substitutability between energy and capital/labor but significant substitutability over longer periods through technical change. We construct such a model, calibrate it based on the historical data, and use it to discuss possibilities for the future. |
| Keywords: | directed technical change; energy saving |
| JEL: | E0 O3 Q32 |
| Date: | 2012–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:9177&r=ene |
| By: | Satu Reijonen (Department of Organization - Copenhagen Business School); Rebecca Pinheiro-Croisel (CGS - Centre de Gestion Scientifique - Mines ParisTech) |
| Abstract: | Despite a growing interest, sustainable energy innovations encounter difficulties in attaining market success. This paper investigates the role of contracts, a hitherto understudied innovation influent, in generating more conducive conditions for sustainable energy innovations in building projects. With the help of two case studies we identify three dynamics evoked by specific types of building contracts with sustainability focus: the dynamics of thinking beyond the habitual, the dynamics of reverse calculation, and the dynamics of countability. These dynamics change the prevailing level of ambition of the project and the ways in which the benefits and costs are calculated and thereby create a strong entanglement of the sustainable energy innovation and the design project. Furthermore, the dynamics lead to favouring of uptake of existing innovations rather than generating completely novel solutions. The article concludes with a discussion about the possibilities of policy intervention for innovation supportive dynamics in construction projects. |
| Keywords: | innovation; sustainable energy; processuality; geothermal heating; bio-climatic design |
| Date: | 2012–08–28 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00743386&r=ene |
| By: | Anthony J. Glass (School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK); Karligash Kenjegalieva (School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK); Robin Sickles (Department of Economics, Rice University, Houston, United States) |
| Abstract: | It is common in firm level environmental efficiency studies for pollution to form part of the production technology. We omit nitrogen and sulphur emissions from the spatial analysis of production in European countries (1995 - 2008) because we find they are not significant inputs. Efficiency and TFP growth from the production analysis are then used in second stage spatial models of nitrogen and sulphur emissions in European countries. We find that to cut European sulphur emissions by a certain percentage requires a decrease in a composite measure of a country’s efficiency and TFP growth which is more than double the decrease needed to reduce European nitrogen emissions by the same percentage. |
| Keywords: | TFP Growth; Atmospheric Pollution; Spatial Econometrics; Economic Efficiency |
| JEL: | C23 D24 Q53 |
| Date: | 2012–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lbo:lbowps:2012_11&r=ene |
| By: | Dario Caldara; Richard Harrison; Anna Lipinska |
| Abstract: | In this paper we analyze the propagation of shocks originating in sectors that are not present in a baseline dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model. Specifically, we proxy the missing sector through a small set of factors, that feed into the structural shocks of the DSGE model to create correlated disturbances. We estimate the factor structure by matching impulse responses of the augmented DSGE model to those generated by an auxiliary model. We apply this methodology to track the effects of oil shocks and housing demand shocks in models without energy and housing sectors. |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:fedgfe:2012-72&r=ene |
| By: | Aki-Hiro Sato; Ken Umeno |
| Abstract: | We investigate relationship between annual electric power consumption per capita and gross domestic production (GDP) per capita for 131 countries. We found that the relationship can be fitted with a power-law function. We examine the relationship for 47 prefectures in Japan. Furthermore, we investigate values of annual electric power production reported by four international organizations. We collected the data from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Statistics by International Energy Agency (IEA), OECD Factbook (Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics), and United Nations (UN) Energy Statistics Yearbook. We found that the data structure, values, and unit depend on the organizations. This implies that it is further necessary to establish data standards and an organization to collect, store, and distribute the data on socio-economic systems. |
| Date: | 2012–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1210.4129&r=ene |
| By: | Filippo Lechthaler (ETH Zurich, Switzerland); Lisa Leinert (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | The unparalleled surge of the crude oil price after 2003 has triggered a heated scientific and public debate about its ultimate causes. Unexpected demand growth particularly from emerging economies appears to be the most prominently supported reason among academics. We study the price dynamics after 2003 in the global crude oil market using a structural VAR model. We account for structural breaks and approximate market expectations using a time series for media sentiment in order to contribute to the existing literature. We and that forward-looking demand activities rather than demand arising from current needs have played an important role for the run-up in the price of crude oil after 2003. We additionally and that emerging economies have not majorly contributed to the price surge |
| Keywords: | Oil Price; Spot Market; Futures Market; Fundamentals; Speculation; Financialization |
| JEL: | Q43 Q41 C32 D8 E3 |
| Date: | 2012–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eth:wpswif:12-168&r=ene |
| By: | Kojima, Masami |
| Abstract: | Between 1999 and 2008, world oil prices more than quadrupled in real terms. For oil importers, vulnerability to oil price increases, defined as the share of gross domestic product spent on net oil imports, rose considerably. Considering medians, low-income countries had the highest vulnerability in 2008 and the highest increase in vulnerability between 1999 and 2008. When changes in vulnerability were decomposed into several contributing factors, more than two-thirds of 170 countries studied were found to have offset the increase in the value of oil consumption by reducing the oil intensity of gross domestic product. Oil intensity fell in more than half the countries in every income group and in every region of the world, driven by falling energy intensity and, to a lesser extent, the oil share of energy. This study also examines the degree of pass-through to consumers of increases in world prices of gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas between January 2009 and January 2012, when oil prices in nominal U.S. dollars more than doubled. Retail fuel prices varied by two orders of magnitude in 2012, and oil-exporting countries were far less likely to pass on price increases. Gasoline had the highest pass-through, followed by diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, and kerosene. The median pass-through increased with income for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, but was highest in low-income countries for liquefied petroleum gas. Despite divergent pricing policies, the pass-through coefficients of different fuels were strongly positively correlated, suggesting that the degrees to which domestic prices tracked world prices were comparable for the four fuels in many countries. |
| Keywords: | Energy Production and Transportation,Markets and Market Access,Oil Refining&Gas Industry,Energy and Environment,Environment and Energy Efficiency |
| Date: | 2012–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6227&r=ene |
| By: | Mark J. Holmes (Department of Economics, Waikato University); Jesus Otero (Facultad de Economía, Universidad del Rosario); Theodore Panagiotidis (Department of Economics, University of Macedonia) |
| Abstract: | This paper employs a pair-wise approach to examine regional integration in the US gasoline market. Using gasoline price data at the state level over a period of more than two decades, we find strong support for the view that the law of one price holds in regional markets, as more than 80% of bivariate price differentials turn out to be stationary. Furthermore, we uncover evidence that the speed at which prices converge to the long-run equilibrium depends upon the distance between states. Asymmetries are also present in this relationship. Our findings suggest that the more similar are states with respect to taxation, gas stations and refining capacity, the faster is the speed of adjustment towards the long-run equilibrium. |
| Keywords: | Panel data, pair-wise approach, market integration, gasoline, speed of adjustment. |
| JEL: | C33 Q47 R11 |
| Date: | 2012–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:koc:wpaper:1230&r=ene |
| By: | Anand, Mukesh Kumar (National Institute of Public Finance and Policy) |
| Abstract: | This paper identifies the important economic activities that use diesel and discusses the contribution of those sectors in GDP. Other important petroleum products and, their limited substitution possibility in the extant technological setting are highlighted. The modal-mix for transportation in India is also discussed. The relevant policy agenda for diesel in the vision statement for hydrocarbon sector is presented along with a summary on evolution of petroleum products pricing regimes. The importance of petroleum taxes for public finance at the federal and provincial levels is discussed in the context of wider reforms in administration of taxes. The impact of changes in diesel and / or petroleum prices, including taxes and subsidies, is explored along a few dimensions. Cost of diesel (and / or petroleum products) as a proportion of total cost of production is presented for certain users / sectors, and some suggestions on reform imperatives are offered. |
| Date: | 2012–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:npf:wpaper:12/108&r=ene |
| By: | Yuri Bobylev (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy); Georgy Idrisov (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy); Sergey Sinelnikov-Murylev (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy) |
| Abstract: | The existing mechanism of gaining resource rent from the national resources sale represents a way to cover inefficient mainly one economic sector – oil refining. National oil refining in the world prices has been producing negative value added for over twenty years. Present research provides analysis of the consequences, which can come from the cancellation of the export duty on oil and oil products as a necessary step to stimulate the energy efficiency of Russia’s economy and to eliminate underdevelopment from a long term subsidizing of inefficient oil refining sector. |
| Keywords: | Export Duties, Oil, Oil Products |
| JEL: | F14 H21 L71 Q3 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gai:ppaper:67&r=ene |
| By: | Sergey Drobyshevsky (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy) |
| Abstract: | This paper is about the bane of the Russian economy: rich oil and gas reserves, which hamper the implementation of structural economic reforms. Oil industry forms the backbone of the Russian economy playing a major role in ensuring revenues of the government budget and the country’s favorable trade balance. |
| Keywords: | Russian economy, Russia’s oil-and-gas sector. |
| JEL: | L71 L72 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gai:wpaper:0036&r=ene |
| By: | Maty Konte (Aix-Marseille Université, Greqam) |
| Abstract: | The literature on the impact of an abundance of natural resources on economic performance remains inconclusive. In this paper we consider the possibility that countries may follow different growth regimes, and test the hypothesis that whether natural resources are a curse or a blessing depends on the growth regime to which economy belongs. We follow recent work that has used a mixture of regression method to identify different growth regimes, and find two regimes such that in one regime resources have a positive impact on growth, while in the other they have a negative impact or at best have no impact on growth. Our analysis of the determinants of whether a country belongs or not to the blessed resources regime indicates that the level of democracy plays an important role while education and economic institutions have no effect. |
| Keywords: | Natural Resources, Mixture of regression, Multiple equilibria. |
| JEL: | O13 O47 |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aim:wpaimx:1218&r=ene |
| By: | Diogo, V.; Koomen, E.; Hilst, F. van der |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:vuarem:2012-4&r=ene |
| By: | Vierth, Inge (VTI); Schleussner, Heike |
| Abstract: | During the last decade six central European countries (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Switzerland) have introduced distance-based network tolls for heavy trucks. In Sweden, Denmark and the Benelux states the time-based Eurovignette is applied since the 1990-ies. All charging systems include a differentiation according to emission class for CO, HC, NOx, PM and smoke, but the Eurovignette is not updated to the latest emission classes. The study addresses Sweden and Germany as representatives for the time-based and distance-based charging system. The German toll is much higher than the Eurovignette for all real journeys; in addition the German government subsidises the purchase of clean trucks – which implies larger incentives for German hauliers (than Swedish hauliers) to use cleaner trucks. As expected, the German fleet is cleaner than the Swedish fleet and the vehicle kilometres performed on German roads are cleaner than the vehicle kilometres performed on Swedish roads. There are spill over effects between the countries in the way that European hauliers have incentives to use their “cleanest trucks” in the countries that have introduced tolls differentiated by the latest emission class and their “dirtiest trucks” in the Eurovignette countries. The difference between the two groups of countries and the incentives to use the cleaner vehicles in the toll countries and the dirtier vehicles in the Eurovignette countries will increase as updates are planned for the tolls but not for the Eurovignette. |
| Keywords: | Freight transport; Pricing; Tolls |
| JEL: | R41 R48 |
| Date: | 2012–10–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:ctswps:2012_022&r=ene |
| By: | Somayeh Mardaneh |
| Abstract: | In this paper, the structural stability of the hybrid New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC) and possible changes in pricing behaviour of firms are investigated in the context of oil price shocks. Using quarterly US aggregate data, this curve is estimated in subsamples formed with oil price shock dates by generalized method of moments (GMM) and continuously updated GMM (CU-GMM). The results for the structural break test confirm 1974:I, 1979:II and 1990:III as identified oil price shock dates and do not reject the structural stability of the over-identifying restrictions implied by the Gali and Gertler’s (1999) hybrid NKPC. However, there is evidence for parameter instability for this hybrid NKPC in terms of backward-looking rule-of-thumb behaviour in both set of estimations. The standard GMM estimates suggest that although the forward-looking behaviour is predominant in the period before the 1974 Oil Crisis, it loses ground against backward-looking behaviour after every oil shock. In contrast, the CU-GMM estimates suggest the opposite: forward-looking behaviour becomes more important after oil price shocks, and inflation persistence decreases as a result. The difference between the two sets of results may be due to weak instruments. Alternatively, given that the CU-GMM seems to suffer smaller bias in the finite sample than the 2-step GMM in the presence of weak instruments, it is more likely that the structural instability of the hybrid NKPC is captured by the CU-GMM estimates. |
| Keywords: | Hybrid New Keynesian Phillips Curve; Oil Price Shock; Structural Stability; Infl‡ation; Forward-looking Behaviour; Backward-looking Behaviour; GMM; Continuously Updated GMM. |
| JEL: | E31 E52 |
| Date: | 2012–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lec:leecon:12/20&r=ene |
| By: | Ina De Vlieger (VITO); Dominique Gusbin; Bruno Hoornaert; Inge Mayeres (VITO); Marie Vandresse; Marlies Vanhulsel (VITO) |
| Keywords: | Emissions, Greenhouse gas, Long-term projection, Polluting substances, Passenger and freight transport |
| JEL: | Q25 R41 |
| Date: | 2012–09–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpb:wpaper:1211&r=ene |
| By: | Alfredo Marvão Pereira (Department of Economics, The College of William and Mary); Rui M. Pereira (Department of Economics, The College of William and Mary) |
| Abstract: | This document presents a description and discussion of the implementation of a soft link between the GEM-E3_PT general equilibrium model and the TIMES_PT energy systems model. It outlines in great detail four alterations to the GEM-E3_PT model structure and GAMS code to accommodate the transfer of information from the TIMES_PT model. The fundamental logic behind the link is to allow for the TIMES_PT model to control the energy system profile, technological choice and energy substitution possibilities. The GEM-E3_PT model then provides the necessary framework for incorporating general equilibrium feedbacks to the exogenous economic drivers to the TIMES_PT model. The fundamental link between the two is defined with respect to total energy system costs and the resulting economic adjustments. This document describes the GAMS module for the energy sector changes to the GEM-E3_PT model. It provides the documentation regarding the excel spreadsheets used for data transfer across the TIMES_PT model and the GEM-E3_PT models. Finally, it provides detailed operational description of the procedure used to implement the linked model. In addition to providing a framework for incorporating general equilibrium feedbacks to the exogenous economic drivers of the TIMES_PT model, this link permits for the evaluation of the economic impact of technological and environmental policies evaluated within the framework of the TIMES_PT model. |
| Date: | 2012–10–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cwm:wpaper:125&r=ene |
| By: | ZhongXiang Zhang |
| Abstract: | This paper provides a review of the literature on competitiveness and leakage concerns associated with differentiated climate abatement commitments among countries. The literature reviewed is not exhausted, but it is sufficient to provide a balanced view of both academics and policy circles. Section 2 discusses how to indentify the sectors at a risk of carbon leakage. Section 3 examines exante estimates of potential carbon leakage rates, and explains why they differ from ex post results of environmental tax reforms and greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes that have been implemented in the European Union. Section 4 discusses broad policy options to address competitiveness and leakage concerns, and compares which anti-leakage policy, border adjustments or output-based allocation, is more effective to limiting carbon leakages or mitigating production loss in the sectors affected. Given that border carbon adjustment measures are incorporated in the U.S. proposed congressional climate bills to level the carbon playing field and could have potential conflicts with World Trade Organization (WTO) provisions and practical difficulties associated with their implementation, Section 5 discuses in great detail the WTO consistency, the effectiveness and methodological challenges of border carbon adjustment measures. The paper ends with some concluding remarks. |
| Keywords: | Emission trading. Competitiveness. Carbon leakage. Emissions allowance requirements. Carbon tariffs. Border carbon adjustments. Grandfathering. Output-based allocation. World Trade Organization |
| JEL: | F18 F47 O13 O24 O31 O44 Q42 Q43 Q48 Q54 Q55 Q56 Q58 R13 R15 |
| Date: | 2012–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:ccepwp:1208&r=ene |
| By: | Smulders, Sjak; Withagen, Cees |
| Abstract: | This paper reviews dynamic general equilibrium models in order to collect insights on the interaction between economic growth and environmental issues. The authors discuss the Ramsey model and extend it for natural resource inputs and pollution, as well as for endogenous technical change. Green growth becomes within reach if there is good substitution, a clean backstop technology, a small share of natural resources in gross domestic product, and/or green directed technical change. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Political Economy,Climate Change Economics,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases |
| Date: | 2012–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6230&r=ene |
| By: | Copeland, Brian R. |
| Abstract: | This paper reviews the challenges and opportunities raised by international trade for developing countries considering a green growth strategy. A key concern is the effect of environmental policies on international competitiveness. For production-generated pollution, there is evidence that stringent environmental policy reduces some indicators of competitiveness, but the effect is small in most sectors. However, tightening up environmental standards is unlikely to reduce international competitiveness when pollution is generated by consumption. And where depletion of natural capital is a threat, effective environmental policy is an important component of a policy aimed at developing long-run international competitiveness. The effects of trade on environmental policy, the interaction between trade and technology transfer, and the interaction between trade and transboundary environmental problems are also reviewed. An emerging issue is the potential use of border taxes to curtail carbon leakage. The paper discusses some of the possible responses by developing countries. Some work has indicated that export taxes or voluntary export restraints applied to carbon-intensive production in non-coalition countries may be preferable to a carbon tariff regime. The paper concludes by suggesting some topics for further research. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics&Policies,Climate Change Economics,Economic Theory&Research,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Emerging Markets |
| Date: | 2012–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6235&r=ene |
| By: | Vincent, Jeffrey R. |
| Abstract: | "Ecosystem services"has become a catch-phrase for the complex connections between the natural environment and human well-being. This paper considers the impact of changes in the supply of ecosystem services, and programs to increase their supply, on near-term growth of gross domestic product. It focuses on the relationship between locally generated versus transboundary services and growth in developing countries, where the highest rates of ecosystem degradation tend to be found. There is a common perception that there is a tradeoff between environmental protection and economic growth, especially in the near term. This perception can make policymakers reluctant to support environmental protection. Where the environment is a source of economically important services, then environmental protection may stimulate growth of gross domestic product instead of reducing it. The paper considers evidence on the economic value of regulating services; the degree to which ecosystems actually supply some of the services they are commonly assumed to supply; and the near-term growth implications of restoring ecosystems, and reducing their loss. This leads to a discussion on the effectiveness of programs intended to reduce ecosystem loss, with a focus on protected areas and payments for ecosystem services, and the effects of these programs on poverty alleviation. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics&Policies,Ecosystems and Natural Habitats,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Wildlife Resources,Climate Change and Environment |
| Date: | 2012–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6233&r=ene |
| By: | Dercon, Stefan |
| Abstract: | The developing world is experiencing substantial environmental change, and climate change is likely to accelerate these processes in the coming decades. Due to their initial poverty, and their relatively high dependence on environmental capital for their livelihoods, the poor are likely to suffer most due to their low resources for mitigation and investment in adaptation. Economic growth is essential for any large-scale poverty reduction. Green growth, a growth process that is sensitive to environmental and climate change concerns, is often seen to be particularly helpful in this respect, leading to a win-win in growth and poverty reduction terms, with additional gains for the cause of greening the planet and avoiding further disastrous environmental change. This paper argues that such a view ignores important trade-offs in the nature of"green growth"strategies, stemming from a poor understanding of the sector and spatial processes behind effective poverty reduction. High labor intensity, declining shares of agriculture in gross domestic product and employment, migration, and urbanization are essential features of poverty-reducing growth. The paper contrasts some common and stylized green-sensitive growth ideas related to agriculture, trade, technology, infrastructure, and urban development with the requirements of poverty-sensitive growth. It finds that they may well cause a slow-down in the effectiveness of growth in reducing poverty. The main lesson therefore is that trade-offs are bound to exist; they increase the social costs of green growth and should be explicitly addressed. If not, green growth may not be good for the poor and the poor should not be asked to pay the price for sustaining growth while greening the planet. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics&Policies,Rural Poverty Reduction,Achieving Shared Growth,Economic Theory&Research,Climate Change Economics |
| Date: | 2012–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6231&r=ene |
| By: | Katja Biedenkopf |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the ways in which the EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading system (ETS) affected the design of similar programs in North America. It investigates the conditions under which EU pioneering policy can play a role in extra-EU jurisdictions’ policy-making. The empirical investigation finds that the EU’s promotion of emissions trading was successful to some extent. The EU did not influence or trigger the inception of GHG emissions trading programs in North America. The EU ETS, however, played a role in the design process of the North American programs. Actors learned from elements of the EU system. Domestic North American factors were the triggers and drivers of the agenda-setting stage and dominated the policy adoption stage while the EU ETS significantly contributed to the policy formulation processes. The EU ETS played a role at the technical level rather than at the level of political deliberations and decision-making. The EU’s policy promotion efforts depended on the demand in North America. The resonance and receptiveness in North America were decisive factors. The EU was not an importunate persuader. Learning from the ETS was to a significant part demand-driven. |
| Keywords: | new technologies; regulations; environmental policy |
| Date: | 2012–09–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:erp:kfgxxx:p0045&r=ene |
| By: | Diarmuid Torney |
| Abstract: | The EU has for a long time claimed the title of leader in the international politics of climate change. However, existing research has generally failed to specify whether the EU’s purported leadership has induced the followership of other states. This working paper seeks to shed light on this somewhat neglected topic by examining the attempted diffusion of climate change norms, policies, and institutions by the EU to China and India. The paper makes two principal arguments. First, the development of Chinese and Indian climate change policy should be understood as primarily domestic developments. Nonetheless, there was limited evidence of diffusion from the EU, but there was significant variation between the Chinese and Indian responses to the EU’s diffusion attempts. The Chinese response was one increasing accommodation; the Indian response was a more straightforward case of resistance. Second, domestic factors help to explain the variation in the Chinese and Indian responses to EU attempts at diffusion and, related, the observed pattern of diffusion from the EU to China and India. Particularly important is the degree to which new external ideas and concepts resonate with pre-existing domestic ideas and concepts. The paper thus paints a picture of limited EU leadership, but also suggests that the EU attempts to secure followership could be enhanced by paying greater attention to the domestic politics and preferences of third countries. |
| Keywords: | regulations; environmental policy; EU-China; international relations |
| Date: | 2012–09–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:erp:kfgxxx:p0046&r=ene |