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The effectiveness of environmental inspections in oligopolistic markets

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  • Häckner, Jonas
  • Herzing, Mathias

Abstract

This study focuses on the consequences of inducing compliance with environmental legislation through inspections in oligopolistic markets. Adherence to the law is associated with environmental gains, but also with losses in surpluses as firms incur abatement costs. By relating the net social benefit of deterring breaches of legislation to inspection costs, the impact of various market characteristics on the effectiveness of inspections can be assessed, thus providing guidance for environmental inspection agencies that have to prioritize among sectors given a fixed budget.

Suggested Citation

  • Häckner, Jonas & Herzing, Mathias, 2017. "The effectiveness of environmental inspections in oligopolistic markets," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 83-97.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:resene:v:48:y:2017:i:c:p:83-97
    DOI: 10.1016/j.reseneeco.2017.03.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Wesseh, Presley K. & Benjamin, Nelson I. & Lin, Boqiang, 2022. "The coordination of pumped hydro storage, electric vehicles, and climate policy in imperfect electricity markets: Insights from China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    3. Herzing, Mathias, 2021. "Multiple equilibria in the context of inspection probabilities depending on firms’ relative emissions," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    4. Takanori ADACHI & Michal Fabinger, 2021. "Pass-Through and the Welfare Effects of Taxation under Imperfect Competition: A General Analysis," Discussion papers e-21-003, Graduate School of Economics , Kyoto University.
    5. Häckner, Jonas & Herzing, Mathias, 2020. "The equilibrium compliance rate among regulated firms," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    6. Guoyou Qi & Hailiang Zou & Xuemei Xie, 2020. "Governmental inspection and green innovation: Examining the role of environmental capability and institutional development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1774-1785, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental inspection; Market structure; Product differentiation; Cournot;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • K32 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Energy, Environmental, Health, and Safety Law

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