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on Energy Economics |
| By: | Flavio Menezes (School of Economics, University of Queensland); Xuemei Zhang (School of Economics, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper reviews the incentives for pursuing a low-carbon electricity sector that are embedded in China’s regulatory and policy framework. To do so, we first describe the industry structure and the regulatory framework. Second, we explicitly review the policies that were developed to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. These policies range from the introduction of legal requirements to undertake particular actions to pricing mechanism and financial incentives. The paper reviews evidence that the various programs designed to replace less efficient with more efficient power generation units have already produced impressive results. In addition, there has been steady progress in reducing line losses. Thus, supply-side energy efficient initiatives have been, at least, moderately successful. In contrast, we show that demand-side energy efficiency initiatives seem to have gone nowhere. Finally, we tease out the challenges faced by a sector governed by a myriad of complex arrangements, different institutions and agents who face different and often conflicting incentives for pursuing environmental and energy efficiency objectives. |
| Keywords: | Regulatory Incentives, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Electricity Sector |
| Date: | 2016–08–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qld:uq2004:562&r=ene |
| By: | Sinha, Pankaj; Mathur, Kritika |
| Abstract: | Given the thrust on the deregulation of electricity markets in India since 2003, the short term electricity market with power exchanges in particular have evolved rapidly to support the growth of the power markets in an efficient manner. Since their year of inception 2008, power exchanges are now more efficient and are able to mitigate risks arising from price volatility for the participants to a large extent. This paper throws light on the trading of day ahead electricity contracts in India. We try to assess whether day ahead electricity returns and return volatility exhibit weekday effect. The study also looks at the effect of traded volume of electricity on electricity return volatility and the impact of introduction of the fifteen minute contracts in the day ahead electricity market in India on returns and return volatility. |
| Keywords: | Power trading, electricity futures, Power exchange |
| JEL: | D44 Q41 Q48 |
| Date: | 2016–08–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:72969&r=ene |
| By: | Rabindra Nepal (CDU Business School, Charles Darwin University); Flavio Menezes (School of Economics, University of Queensland) |
| Abstract: | The global experience with regulatory reforms that promote competition in small electricity markets, especially characterized by scattered networks serving low-density load, is limited. We contribute to this knowledge and policy gap by analyzing the reform experience and policy options in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) market. This market underwent vertical separation and it is now regulated under the national regulatory framework. A virtual wholesale market was created as a stepping stone towards a fuller wholesale market. We find that the new regulatory reforms have improved wholesale market transparency and accountability. However, the anticipated prospect of lower energy prices to consumers will not materialize in the absence of effective regulation and more ambitious changes in the sector. More private participation in electricity generation and retail in the short-term and intra-regional market integration in the medium term may be appropriate policy options as the demand for electricity grows. Market integration can facilitate and not hinder the development of renewable energy. However, we conclude that reforms in smaller electricity markets such a NT should be geared towards meeting the environmental and decarbonization objectives from the early stages given the potential for tropical leadership in off-grid supply of renewable energy. |
| Keywords: | International reforms, small markets, renewable energy |
| JEL: | L94 L51 Q40 |
| Date: | 2016–07–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qld:uq2004:561&r=ene |
| By: | Spitzner, Meike; Buchmüller, Sandra |
| Abstract: | Effizienzpolitiken allein werden nicht mehr ausreichen, um Klimaschutzziele zu erreichen. Diese Erkenntnis setzt sich in der aktuellen Nachhaltigkeitsdebatte immer mehr durch, partiell selbst innerhalb der Green Economy-Diskurse. Wir werden um Politiken der Eindämmung struktureller Energiebedarfs-Erzeugung nicht herumkommen. Allerdings besteht die Gefahr, dass die Forderungen nach Suffizienz und "Maß-Halten" nicht die Erwerbsökonomie und Wachstumspolitiken adressieren, sondern die privaten Haushalte: die genderbedingt erwerbsökonomisch und politisch externalisierte Versorgungsökonomie (Haushaltswirtschaft) und persönliches Handeln. Deshalb ist ein emanzipativer Energiesuffizienz-Politikansatz umso wichtiger. Wie aber lässt sich ein Energie-bezogener Suffizienz-Ansatz des "Genug - es reicht!" anwendungsorientiert und methodisch konkret fassen? Auf welches Sichtbarmachen von den in der Energieforschung und -politik fast immer ausgeblendeten Fragen nach dem gutem Leben, Versorgen und Versorgt werden kommt es an? Wie lassen sich dabei implizite Genderverzerrungen, die aus traditionell an Maskulinität als Norm orientiertem Denken stammen, gemeinsam überwinden? Welche Strategien, welche Potenziale, welche Eingriffspunkte für Energiesuffizienz-Politiken und welcher Art Instrumente resultieren daraus? Die im ersten größeren, vom BMBF geförderten Forschungsprojekt zu diesen Fragen erarbeiteten Analysen, Ansätze und Methoden wurden durch genderkompetente ExpertInnen aus den beteiligten Disziplinen in einer Fokusgruppen-Diskussion reflektiert, kritisch gewürdigt, mit Anregungen, disziplinären Wissensbeständen und praktischen Beispielen bereichert. Der Wuppertal Report 8 präsentiert die Auswertung und die Zusammenfassung des emanzipativen Ansatzes und neuen Methode. Er gibt damit einen Einblick in die vielfältigen Ergebnisse des Gesamtprojekts "Strategien und Instrumente für eine technische, systemische und kulturelle Transformation zur nachhaltigen Begrenzung des Energiebedarfs im Konsumfeld Bauen/Wohnen". |
| Abstract: | Sufficiency actually is debated as a serious topic. Not at least because of the limits and destructive impacts of growth, producing global environmental damages, unsustainable consumption of ressources and climate change, but also economical and social destabilisations and inequalities. Also green economy and efficiency policies turn out to be no match for these problems. But how to design acceptable and effective sustainable sufficiency policies in concrete sectors like energy? Enabling "good life" without growth imperative (cf. the "sustainable livelihood" approach) necessitates adressing politically the structural production of energy needs and demand. Nevertheless there are emerging risks, not hitherto politics and market driven economy will be adressed by sufficiency, but private households: their care economy as well as the personal acting within. The care economy however already is long ago recognised being in an economical, social and ecological crisis: It is economically exploited, but because of gender biases externalised from being (societal the essential) part of economy and its rationality. The dominant societal masculinity model still comprises significant abstinence resulting i.a. in gender unequal chances of being served and provided. And societal nature relationships of caring are undermined by centering independent social security etc. around income from market. After the "feminisation of the environmental responsibility", pointed out for the waste and transport sector, now "feminisation of the energy sufficiency responsibility"? All the more important is an emancipative (energy) sufficiency approach. What methods are nescessary and adequate designing sustainable, i.e. gender responsive political energy sufficiency strategies and modeling potentials? Which political step ins, actions and types of instruments are resulting from an energy sufficiency approach of "Enough already!"? The analysis, approach and methods as well as their evaluation and enrichment by an interdisciplinary expert focus group discussion, done within a first research project on elaborating energy sufficiency policies, are presented by the Wuppertal Report no. 8. |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:wuprep:8&r=ene |
| By: | Gröne, Marie-Christine |
| Abstract: | Derzeit vollziehen sich in vielen Städten der Industrienationen gesellschaftliche und räumliche Veränderungen. Diese Prozesse stellen große Anforderungen an die Umgestaltung der bisherigen Infrastrukturversorgung der Bevölkerung. Gleichzeitig bilden Städte ein Zentrum der Emission von klimaschädlichen Treibhausgasen, deren Reduktion auf ein Minimum eine der zentralen Aufgaben in der ersten Hälfte dieses Jahrhunderts sein wird. Eine nachhaltige Entwicklung der Städte, die sowohl den sozialen, ökologischen als auch den ökonomischen Ansprüche der BewohnerInnen gerecht wird, ist offen für die Diskussion unterschiedlicher Konzepte und Strategien zur Bewältigung der großen Veränderungsprozesse in den nächsten Jahrzehnten. In einigen Städten und Regionen treten Herausforderungen wie der demographische Wandel, wirtschaftliche und finanzielle Schwierigkeiten sowie Klimawandel schon heute gemeinsam auf. Ein Beispiel ist die Stadt Wuppertal, die im Bergischen Land zwischen Rheinschiene und Ruhrgebiet liegt. Der Handlungsdruck bietet die Chance, als early adopter neue Lösungswege zu gehen und bei erfolgreicher Umsetzung als Vorbilder für andere Kommunen zu dienen. Mit der Frage, wie Städte die Herausforderungen bewältigen können und zu zukunftsfähigen Orten werden, beschäftigt sich die sustainable urban transition Forschung. Dabei stehen bislang technisch orientierte Neuerungen mit ihren sozialen Implikationen wie Energieeffizienz und der Einsatz erneuerbarer Energien im Forschungsinteresse. In diesem Paper wird eine weitere Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie, die Energiesuffizienz, unter Anwendung verschiedener Konzepte des Transition-Ansatzes analysiert und anhand der Befragung von Expertinnen und Experten sowie lokalen Stakeholdern (=Akteuren) in der schrumpfenden Stadt Wuppertal untersucht. Aus theoretischer Sicht stellt sich zum einen die Frage, ob Energiesuffizienz in der Stadtentwicklung ein konkretes Transformationsfeld im Rahmen der sustainable urban transition ist. Zum anderen wird die Frage aufgeworfen, ob Energiesuffizienz als in erster Linie "nichttechnisch" orientierte Strategie mit den zentralen Konzepten der Transition-Forschung zu analysieren ist. Und wenn ja, ob theoretische Erweiterungen/Anpassungen vorgenommen werden sollten. In der Fallstudie wird für Wuppertal endsprechend der Phase der Problemanalyse des transition enabling cycles untersucht, welche Akteure vor Ort entscheidend sind, wie sie Energiesuffizienz heute und in Zukunft sowie ihre eigene Position beurteilen. Es wird der Frage nachgegangen, welche Maßnahmen auf städtischer Ebene aus Akteurs- und Expertensicht dazu geeignet sind, Energiesuffizienz langfristig zu fördern. Dabei wird eine Fokussierung auf zwei Sektoren vorgenommen, die zusammengenommen einen großen Teil des städtischen Energiebedarfs ausmachen: Raumwärme privater Haushalte sowie Personenverkehr. Die Förderung von Energiesuffizienz ist eine sektorübergreifende Aufgabe, die darüber hinaus auf verschiedenen politisch räumlichen Ebenen umgesetzt werden muss. Die Analyse in Wuppertal zeigt dennoch, dass sich die kommunale Ebene als Ansatzpunkt für die Untersuchung von Suffizienz im Bereich Personenverkehr und Raumwärmenachfrage von Haushalten eignet. Obwohl einige Akteure überrascht sind, dass sie als zentral für die Umsetzung von Energiesuffizienz fördernden Maßnahmen angesehen werden, ist das Interesse an dem Thema groß. Es werden zahlreiche Ansatzhebel identifiziert, die auf lokaler Ebene energiesuffizientes Verhalten unterstützen können. |
| Abstract: | Many cities in industrialized countries currently pass through societal and spatial transformation processes. These processes make high demands on the reconfiguration of the previous infrastructure provision. At the same time, cities in general built a center for the emission of climate-wrecking greenhouse gases (GHG). Reducing these GHG emissions to a minimum is one of the most challenging tasks during the first half of this century. A sustainable urban development which embraces the social, ecological and economic requirements is open to discuss different concepts and strategies to accomplish the transformation processes in the coming decades. In some cities and regions a variety of challenges such as demographical changes, economical and financial difficulties as well as climate change emerge all together. One example is the city of Wuppertal located between Rhineland and Ruhr area. The pressure to act offers the chance to strike a new path as an early adopter. In case of success the city might serve as a role model for other cities. The sustainable urban transition research deals with the question of how cities can cope with long term challenges and become viable for the future. Technological oriented innovations with their social implications such as energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies currently stand in the research focus. In the paper we analyze a third sustainability strategy called energy sufficiency. We apply different concepts of the transition research to this strategy and examine sufficiency on the basis of expert and stakeholder interviews. From a theoretical point of view the question raises if energy sufficiency presents a concrete research field in the sustainable urban transition theory. Moreover, we pose the question if energy sufficiency as a predominantly non-technical strategy can be adequately analyzed by central concepts of the transition theory. If it is the case, does it necessitate amplifications or additions? In the case study of Wuppertal it is examined in accordance with the problem analysis phase of the transition enabling cycle which local stakeholders are important to foster energy sufficiency. How do they rate energy sufficiency today and in the future as well as their role concerning the strategy? Furthermore, we analyze which strategies and measures are suitable to foster energy sufficiency in the long run. A focus is set on two sectors that jointly count for a great deal of urban energy demand: space heating of private households and passenger transport. The promotion of energy sufficiency as a strategy of action is a cross-sectoral task which has to be put into practice on different political and spatial levels. However, the analysis in Wuppertal shows that the local level is an appropriate starting point for the investigation of energy sufficiency in the sectors of space heating of private households and passenger transport. Even though many stakeholders were surprised that they are considered to be very important for the establishment and implementation of energy sufficiency they were interested in the strategy. Moreover, all interviewed stakeholders could imagine supporting energy sufficiency. Many individual measures and general strategies were identified which facilitate energy sufficiency on a local level. |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:wuppap:190&r=ene |
| By: | Hamrita, Mohamed Essaied; Mekdam, Mejdi |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the empirical causal relationship between energy consumption, CO2 emissions and economic growth for six oil-exporting countries from the Golf Cooperation Council (GCC) region over the period 2000:2011. Bootstrap panel Granger causality test approach is used which take account the cross-sectional dependency and the heterogeneity across countries. The empirical results support a bi-directional causality between economic growth and energy consumption for Bahrin and one-way Granger causality running from economic growth to energy consumption for United Emirate Arab and Qatar. Regarding to GDP-CO2 emissions nexus, a reverse relationship from CO2 to GDP for Bahrin and Kuwait is found. However, a two-way Granger causality between CO2 emissions and energy consumption for United Arab Emirate is found. |
| Keywords: | Energy consumption, CO2 emissions, economic growth, bootstrap panel causality test, Cross-sectional dependence, Heterogeneity, GCC. |
| JEL: | C1 C3 Q2 Q4 Q5 |
| Date: | 2016–07–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:72908&r=ene |
| By: | Cesur, Resul (University of Connecticut); Tekin, Erdal (American University); Ulker, Aydogan (Deakin University) |
| Abstract: | There has been a widespread displacement of coal by natural gas as space heating and cooking technology in Turkey in the last two decades, triggered by the deployment of natural gas networks. In this paper, we examine the impact of this development on mortality among adults and the elderly. Our research design exploits the variation in the timing of the deployment and the intensity of expansion of natural gas networks at the provincial level using data from 2001 to 2014. The results indicate that the expansion of natural gas services has caused significant reductions in both the adult and the elderly mortality rates. According to our point estimates, a one-percentage point increase in the rate of subscriptions to natural gas services would lower the overall mortality rate by 1.4 percent, the adult mortality rate by 1.9 percent, and the elderly mortality rate by 1.2 percent. These findings are supported by our auxiliary analysis, which demonstrates that the expansion of natural gas networks has indeed led to a significant improvement in air quality. Furthermore, we show that the mortality gains for both the adult and the elderly populations are primarily driven by reductions in cardio-respiratory deaths, which are more likely to be due to conditions caused or exacerbated by air pollution. Finally, our analysis does not reveal any important gender differences in the estimated relationship between the deployment of natural gas networks and mortality. |
| Keywords: | mortality, air pollution, natural gas, coal, Turkey, fracking |
| JEL: | I10 I15 I18 O10 O13 Q42 Q48 Q53 |
| Date: | 2016–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10115&r=ene |
| By: | Christoph Kleineberg (Leuphana University Lueneburg, Germany); Thomas Wein (Leuphana University Lueneburg, Germany) |
| JEL: | K21 L12 L42 |
| Date: | 2015–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lue:wpaper:355&r=ene |
| By: | Valdes, Constanza; Hjort, Kim; Seeley, Ralph |
| Abstract: | A prominent issue related to land-use changes in Brazil is the westward expansion of agriculture into the country’s frontier region, which includes the surrounding Cerrados savannah. The conversion of range, pasture, and other land into cropland in Brazil is due to rising domestic and international food demand but is also a consequence of ethanol production and policies that have increased the demand for sugarcane (ethanol feedstock). Because the supply and demand for ethanol are inexorably linked to that of petroleum, oil prices can affect production and land-use decisions for ethanol feedstocks and related agricultural commodities. This study examines the effects of longrun changes in oil prices on ethanol production in Brazil and resulting cropping patterns. Given a sustained fall in oil prices, ethanol use would be expected to fall, leading to a decrease in area planted to sugarcane and an increase in land available for other agricultural commodities. However, a sustained increase in oil prices would be expected to increase the incentives to produce ethanol, thereby expanding sugarcane production and planting area. Given Brazil’s dominant position in multiple global commodity export markets, adjustments to output and exports would lead to changes in world prices. |
| Keywords: | Brazil, agriculture, agricultural sector model, oil prices, ethanol, crops, livestock, land use., Agribusiness, International Development, International Relations/Trade, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2016–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uersrr:242449&r=ene |
| By: | Craig Benedict; Mario J. Crucini; Anthony Landry |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we argue that differences in the cost structure across sectors play an important role in the decision of firms to adjust their prices. We develop a menu-cost model of pricing in which retail firms intermediate trade between producers and consumers. An important facet of our analysis is that the labor-cost share of retail production differs across goods and services in the consumption basket. For example, the price of gasoline at the retail pump is predicted to adjust more frequently and by more than the price of a haircut due to the high volatility in wholesale gasoline prices relative to the wages of unskilled labor, even when both retailers face a common menu cost. This modeling approach allows us to account for some of the cross-sectional differences observed in the frequency of price adjustments across goods. We apply this model to Ecuador to take advantage of inflation variations and the rich panel of monthly retail prices. |
| JEL: | E3 E58 F3 F41 |
| Date: | 2016–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:22506&r=ene |
| By: | Arne Neukirch (Leuphana University Lueneburg, Germany); Thomas Wein (Leuphana University Lueneburg, Germany) |
| Abstract: | Do we have effective competition between the gasoline's big five oligopolists (Aral, Shell, Esso, Total and Jet) and fringe gasoline stations? Using 2014 Market Transparency price data from 66 cities with populations between 60,000 and 100,000, we analyze which brands lead price increases, the first average price mark-up in the evening, and the trend on price increases until midnight. Furthermore, we measure the response time it takes for competitors to react to these price increases, and how much prices change from the beginning to the end of a day. By watching local activities of the big brands, it is possible to measure how smaller businesses, such as Jet or independent retailers, react to Aral's and Shell's price changes. Multivariate estimations allows to control for gasoline type (regular or diesel), school holidays, weekends, weekdays, location -such as East or West Germany-, wholesale and starting prices. Descriptive results show the typical patterns. Aral (or Shell) will start a price increase round, and then Shell (or Aral) will more or less immediately follow. Total, Esso and Non-Oligopolists react within one or two hours. Jet behaves more as an "outsider" with later reaction times and lower price mark-ups. Multivariate estimation indicates that the single cause "price change by competitors" is less important and nearly irrelevant for Jet. |
| Keywords: | Market power, collusive behavior, gasoline market |
| JEL: | L13 L41 L81 |
| Date: | 2016–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lue:wpaper:363&r=ene |
| By: | Uri Dadush |
| Abstract: | The MENA region is vital for Europe economically as a source of energy and as a large and historically rapidly growing market. Politically, however, it is a source of unwanted migration, conflicts, and geopolitical instability. This Policy Brief analyzes the diversity of the MENA region by highlighting some economic features. It also discusses a reform agenda for the region based on the prospects of this area. |
| Date: | 2016–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ocp:ppaper:pb-16/22&r=ene |
| By: | Rüter, Sebastian; Werner, Frank; Forsell, Nicklas; Prins, Christopher; Vial, Estelle; Levet, Anne-Laure |
| Abstract: | The ClimWood2030 study, commissioned by DG CLIMA of the European Commission, quantifies the five ways in which the EU forest sector contributes to climate change mitigation: carbon sequestration and storage in EU forests, carbon storage in harvested wood products in the EU, substitution of wood products for functionally equivalent materials and substitution of wood for other sources of energy, and displacement of emissions from forests outside the EU. It also explores through scenario analysis, based on a series of interlocking models (GLOBIOM, G4M and WoodCarbonMonitor), along with detailed analysis of Forest Based Functional Units, based on life cycle assessment (LCA), the consequences for GHG balances of policy choices at present under consideration. The focus is on the EU-28, but GHG balances for other parts of the world are also considered, notably to assess consequences of EU policy choices for other regions. The five scenarios are (I) The ClimWood2030 reference scenario, (II) Increase carbon stock in existing EU forests, (III) Cascade use - increase recovery of solid wood products, (IV) Cascade use - prevent first use of biomass for energy and (V) Strongly increase material wood use. The study presents detailed scenario results for key parameters, the policy instruments linked to the scenarios, and main conclusions. The ClimWood2030 study, commissioned by DG CLIMA of the European Commission, quantifies the five ways in which the EU forest sector contributes to climate change mitigation: carbon sequestration and storage in EU forests, carbon storage in harvested wood products in the EU, substitution of wood products for functionally equivalent materials and substitution of wood for other sources of energy, and displacement of emissions from forests outside the EU. It also explores through scenario analysis, based on a series of interlocking models (GLOBIOM, G4M and WoodCarbonMonitor), along with detailed analysis of Forest Based Functional Units, based on life cycle assessment (LCA), the consequences for GHG balances of policy choices at present under consideration. The focus is on the EU-28, but GHG balances for other parts of the world are also considered, notably to assess consequences of EU policy choices for other regions. The five scenarios are (I) The ClimWood2030 reference scenario, (II) Increase carbon stock in existing EU forests, (III) Cascade use - increase recovery of solid wood products, (IV) Cascade use - prevent first use of biomass for energy and (V) Strongly increase material wood use. The study presents detailed scenario results for key parameters, the policy instruments linked to the scenarios, and main conclusions. |
| Keywords: | forest-based sector,climate change,greenhouse gas balance,harvested wood products,substitution,scenario analysis,policy instruments |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:jhtire:42&r=ene |
| By: | Asheim, Bjørn (University of Stavanger); Grillitsch, Markus (CIRCLE, Lund University); Trippl, Michaela (CIRCLE, Lund University) |
| Abstract: | This book chapter provides conceptual and empirical foundations for smart specialisation, a policy approach of far-reaching importance in the European context. We interpret the very notion as “diversified” specialisation into areas of existing or potential competitive advantage, which differentiates a region/nation from others. “Smart” relates to the identification of these areas through a process of entrepreneurial discovery, in which all actors are mobilized to be able to discover domains for securing existing and future competitiveness. Competitive advantage through smart specialization can be promoted in all types of industries but based on the industry specific modes of innovation and knowledge bases, which is illustrated through case studies in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Depending on the preconditions, we find that variegated strategies of smart specialisation are pursued, including building the absorptive capacity of DUI based firms by increasing their research based competence (introducing analytical knowledge), combining unrelated knowledge bases to move into new related and unrelated industries, combining related knowledge bases to move into unrelated industries, and moving into high-value added niches by introducing symbolic knowledge in traditional sectors. |
| Keywords: | Smart specialisation; policy; innovation; economic diversification; entrepreneurial discovery; knowledge bases; new path development; competitive advantage; regions |
| JEL: | O18 O30 O38 P48 R10 R58 |
| Date: | 2016–08–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2016_023&r=ene |
| By: | Fulvio Castellacci (TIK Centre, University of Oslo); Christine Mee Lie (TIK Centre, University of Oslo) |
| Abstract: | The paper presents a new taxonomy of green innovators. We make use of firm-level data from the Korea Innovation Survey to investigate different types of eco-innovations, how these relate to each other, and what the main drivers and determinants are. Our empirical methodology is based on a combination of factor, cluster and multinomial logit analysis. The taxonomy points out four groups of green innovators: (1) CO2-reducing; (2) waste-reducing; (3) recycling innovators; (4) pollution-reducing. We also find that R&D policies are more relevant factors enhancing innovations in waste-reducing firms, whereas environmental taxes and regulations are more important drivers of technological change for pollution-reducing companies. |
| Date: | 2016–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tik:inowpp:20160808&r=ene |
| By: | Jay Turner |
| Abstract: | This paper identifies opportunities to refine OECD’s indicators of air pollution and population exposure to air pollution, and their periodic production for OECD and G20 countries. First, a comprehensive review is conducted of the publicly available ground-level air monitoring data for the selected countries, including their geographic coverage, data quality, comparability, etc. Second, the paper evaluates the potential applications of ground monitoring measurements for the construction of policy-relevant and internationally comparable indicators across OECD and G20 countries. Given the limited public availability of data and the incomplete geographic coverage in countries outside of Europe and North America, this paper concludes that such data are not suitable for the development of the OECD indicators of air pollution and population exposure to air pollution that need to be harmonised across countries and over time. A hybrid approach is instead recommended as a superior alternative that draws on both satellite data combined with a chemical transport model calibrated using ground-based measurements. Ce rapport étudie les possibilités d’affiner les indicateurs de l’OCDE concernant la pollution de l’air et l’exposition de la population à la pollution de l’air, et leur production régulière pour les pays de l’OCDE et ceux du G20. Il propose pour commencer un examen très complet des données publiques de surveillance de l’air au niveau du sol disponibles dans les pays étudiés, en s’intéressant notamment à leur couverture géographique, la qualité des données, leur comparabilité, etc. Il évalue ensuite les possibilités de construire, à l’aide des mesures au sol, des indicateurs pertinents pour l’action publique et comparables dans les pays de l’OCDE et du G20. Après avoir constaté que les données publiques étaient limitées et que leur couverture géographique était incomplète dans les pays hors zones Europe et Amérique du Nord, le rapport conclut que ces données ne conviennent pas pour élaborer les indicateurs de l’OCDE concernant la pollution de l’air et l’exposition de la population qui doivent être harmonisés entre pays et au cours du temps. Il recommande d’opter plutôt pour une approche hybride, basée sur des données satellitaires conjuguées à un modèle de transport chimique étalonné à l’aide de données relevées au niveau du sol, qui semble offrir une meilleure alternative. |
| Keywords: | ambient air pollution, outdoor air pollution, particulate matter, ground monitoring, ozone, pollution de l’air ambiant, pollution de l’air extérieur, surveillance au sol, particules, ozone |
| JEL: | I18 O18 Q53 R11 |
| Date: | 2016–08–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envddd:2016/1-en&r=ene |
| By: | Clemens Noelke; Mark E. McGovern; Daniel J. Corsi; Marcia Pescador-Jimenez; Ari Stern; Ian Sue Wing; Lisa Berkman |
| Abstract: | This study examines the impact of ambient temperature on emotional well-being in the U.S. population aged 18+. The U.S. is an interesting test case because of its resources, technology and variation in climate across different areas, which also allows us to examine whether adaptation to different climates could weaken or even eliminate the impact of heat on well-being. Using survey responses from 1.9 million Americans over the period from 2008 to 2013, we estimate the effect of temperature on well-being from exogenous day-to-day temperature variation within respondents' area of residence and test whether this effect varies across areas with different climates. We find that increasing temperatures significantly reduce well-being. Compared to average daily temperatures in the 50 to 60°F (10 to 16°C) range, temperatures above 70°F (21°C) reduce positive emotions (e.g. joy, happiness), increase negative emotions (e.g. stress, anger), and increase fatigue (feeling tired, low energy). These effects are particularly strong among less educated and older Americans. However, there is no consistent evidence that heat effects on well-being differ across areas with mild and hot summers, suggesting limited variation in heat adaptation. |
| Keywords: | Mental Health; Heat Exposure; Climate Impacts; Subjective Well-Being; Social Inequality |
| JEL: | I30 Q54 |
| Date: | 2016–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qub:charms:1601&r=ene |
| By: | Andersen, Dana C. (University of Alberta, Department of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper develops a multi-sector general equilibrium model with heterogeneous firms to account for both the direct cost of regulations on regulated firms as well as the indirect cost associated with firm exit and loss of variety. The model derives an analytical marginal abatement cost function, dividing the cost according to various direct and indirect effects, and explores the implications for optimal environmental policy. The model is calibrated to the U.S. manufacturing sector for criteria air pollutants, demonstrating that the direct cost of regulations significantly overstates the true cost. Moreover, because marginal abatement costs vary across industries, reallocating pollution across industries from their current levels can generate substantial cost savings. |
| Keywords: | general equilibrium; firm heterogeneity; welfare cost of regulations; manufacturing sector |
| JEL: | D51 D62 L11 L60 Q52 Q53 |
| Date: | 2016–08–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:albaec:2016_009&r=ene |
| By: | Suzi Kerr (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research); Judd Ormsby (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research) |
| Abstract: | The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) presents an opportunity to compare the theory of linked emissions trading with practice. From 2009 until late 2012 New Zealand was linked to the Kyoto market and there was no indication that this link would be broken. In November 2012 the New Zealand government announced that it would not proceed with the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and future linking became uncertain. This de-link was confirmed by the government in December 2013 and it was announced that it would take effect from 31 May 2015. After this date overseas Kyoto units were no longer acceptable for surrender within the NZ ETS. We find that prices within the NZ ETS behaved as theory would predict. In a climate of certain linking, from 2011 when New Zealand began buying overseas units to surrender, New Zealand Unit (NZU) prices were roughly equal to Kyoto prices. Once the possibility of a future de-link emerged, NZU and Kyoto prices decoupled. NZU prices traded at a price reflecting their anticipated future scarcity – for New Zealand as a buyer of units this implies that NZUs traded at a higher price. In anticipation of the coming de-link NZ ETS participants banked (almost) all of their NZUs for future use and used cheap Kyoto units to meet (almost) all of their current obligations. The long delay between the announcement and implementation of de-linking led to a large bank of NZUs. |
| Keywords: | New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS), climate change, mitigation, emissions trading, linked tradable permit market, Kyoto units, Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), Emission Reduction Units (ERUs), greenhouse gas, carbon markets |
| JEL: | Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2016–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mtu:wpaper:16_13&r=ene |
| By: | Xu Huang (The Statistical Research Centre, Bournemouth University, UK); Hossein Hassani (The Statistical Research Centre, Bournemouth University, UK); Mansi Ghodsi (The Statistical Research Centre, Bournemouth University, UK); Zinnia Mukherjee (Author-Name: Department of Economics, Simmons College, U.S.A); Rangan Gupta (Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria) |
| Abstract: | Various scientific studies have investigated the causal link between solar activity (SS) and the earth’s temperature (GT). Results from literature indicate that both the detected structural breaks and existing trend have significant effects on the causality detection outcomes. In this paper, we make a contribution to this literature by evaluating and comparing seven trend extraction methods covering various aspects of trend extraction studies to date. In addition, we extend previous work by using Convergent Cross Mapping (CCM) - an advanced nonparametric causality detection technique to provide evidence on the effect of existing trend in global temperature on the causality detection outcome. This paper illustrates the use of a method to find the most reliable trend extraction approach for data preprocessing, as well as provides detailed analyses of the causality detection of each component by this approach to achieve a better understanding of the causal link between SS and GT. Furthermore, the corresponding CCM results indicate increasing significance of causal effect from SS to GT since 1880 to recent years, which provide solid evidences that may contribute on explaining the escalating global tendency of warming up recent decades. |
| Keywords: | Trend extraction approaches, causality detection, Convergent Cross Mapping, sunspot number, global temperature, Singular Spectrum Analysis |
| Date: | 2016–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pre:wpaper:201660&r=ene |
| By: | Christoph Böhringer (University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics); Xaquin Garcia-Muros (Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Bilbao, Spain); Ignacio Cazcarro (Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Bilbao, Spain); Iñaki Arto (Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Bilbao, Spain) |
| Abstract: | Despite recent achievements towards a global climate agreement, climate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions remains quite heterogeneous across countries. Energy-intensive and trade-exposed (EITE) industries in industrialized countries are particularly concerned on stringent domestic emission pricing that may put them at a competitive disadvantage with respect to producers of similar goods in other countries without or only quite lenient emission regulation. This paper focuses on climate policy analysis for the United States of America (US) and compares the economic implications of four alternative protective measures for US EITE industries: (i) output-based rebates, (ii) exemptions from emission pricing, (iii) energy intensity standards, and (iv) carbon intensity standards. Based on simulations with a large-scale computable general equilibrium model for the global economy we quantify how these protective measures affect competitiveness of US EITE industries. We find that while protective measures can attenuate adverse competitiveness impacts measured in terms of common sector-specific competitiveness indicators, they run the risk of making US emission reduction much more costly than uniform emission pricing stand-alone. In fact, the cost increase is associated with negative income effects such that the gains of protective measures for EITE exports may be more than compensated through losses in domestic EITE demand. |
| Keywords: | Unilateral climate policy; competitiveness; computable general equilibrium |
| JEL: | D21 H23 D58 |
| Date: | 2016–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:old:dpaper:392&r=ene |
| By: | Achim Hagen (Carl von Ossietzky University, Department of Economics); Juan-Carlos Altamirano-Cabrera (Economics Center, World Resources Institute, Washington DC); Hans-Peter Weikard (Wageningen University, The Netherlands) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the effects of political pressure groups (lobbies) on the emissions abatement decisions of countries and on the stability of international environmental agreements. We consider two types of lobbies, industry and environmentalists. We determine the influence of lobby-groups on the abatement decisions of countries. This influence affects members of an international environmental agreement as well as outsiders. However, in the case of agreement members, the effects of lobbying are not restricted to the lobby’s host-country but spill over to other member countries and have ambiguous effects on the agreement stability. |
| Keywords: | interest groups, coalition theory, environmental policy making, international environmental agreements |
| JEL: | C72 D72 D78 H41 Q28 Q54 |
| Date: | 2016–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:old:dpaper:391&r=ene |
| By: | Greer Gosnell; Alessandro Tavoni |
| Abstract: | The recent global climate change agreement in Paris leaves a wide gap between pledged and requisite emissions reductions in keeping with the commonly accepted 2°C target. A recent strand of theoretical and experimental evidence establishes pessimistic predictions concerning the ability of comprehensive global environmental agreements to improve upon the business-as-usual trajectory. We introduce an economic experiment focusing on the dynamics of the negotiation process by observing subjects’ behavior in a Nash bargaining game. Throughout repeated rounds, heterogeneous players bargain over the allocation of a fixed amount of profit-generating emissions with significant losses attached to prolonged failure to reach agreement. We find that the existence of side agreements that constrain individual demands among a subset of like countries does not ensure success; however, such side agreements reduce the demands of high-emission parties. Our results highlight the importance of strong signals amongst high emitters in reaching agreement to shoulder a collective emissions reduction target. |
| Date: | 2016–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lsg:lsgwps:wp249&r=ene |