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The role of output reallocation and investment in coordinating environmental markets

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  • Abito, Jose Miguel
  • Knittel, Christopher R.
  • Metaxoglou, Konstantinos
  • Trindade, André

Abstract

We examine the inefficiency of uncoordinated environmental regulation of CO2 emissions from electricity generation for a large regional U.S. wholesale electricity market that spans multiple states. We estimate a dynamic structural model of production and investment to compare the social welfare of two counterfactual regulatory scenarios. In both scenarios, emissions targets set by the regulator are met via endogenously determined CO2 prices in markets aiming to correct the externality. In the first scenario, the CO2 prices are state-specific. In the second scenario, there is a regional CO2 price. According to our social welfare estimates, the inefficiency of uncoordinated regulation is mitigated substantially because of the firms’ participation in an integrated product market in two main ways. First, firms reallocate output from states with high CO2 prices to states with low prices. Second, this reallocation spurs investment in cleaner capacity that is exempt from CO2 regulation. Our finding regarding the mitigation and, potentially, elimination of the inefficiency is robust to alternative models of optimal investment behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Abito, Jose Miguel & Knittel, Christopher R. & Metaxoglou, Konstantinos & Trindade, André, 2022. "The role of output reallocation and investment in coordinating environmental markets," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:83:y:2022:i:c:s0167718722000194
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2022.102843
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    1. Jesse Buchsbaum & Catherine Hausman & Johanna L Mathieu & Jing Peng, 2024. "Spillovers from ancillary services to wholesale energy markets," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 55(1), pages 87-111, March.

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    JEL classification:

    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • L5 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy
    • L9 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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