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Technology Policy and Market Structure: Evidence from the Power Sector

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  • Moritz Bohland
  • Sebastian Schwenen

Abstract

We show how policies to trigger clean technologies change price competition and market structure. We present evidence from electricity markets, where regulators have implemented different policies to subsidize clean energy. Building on a multi-unit auction model, we show that currently applied subsidy designs either foster or attenuate competition. Fixed, price-independent output subsidies decrease firms’ mark-ups. In contrast, designs that subsidize clean output via a regulatory premium on the market price lead to higher mark-ups. We confirm this finding empirically using auction data from the Spanish power market. Our empirical results show that the design choice for technology subsidies significantly impacts pricing behavior of firms and policy costs for consumers

Suggested Citation

  • Moritz Bohland & Sebastian Schwenen, 2020. "Technology Policy and Market Structure: Evidence from the Power Sector," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1856, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp1856
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabra, Natalia & , Imelda, 2020. "Market Power and Price Exposure: Learning from Changes in Renewables' Regulation," CEPR Discussion Papers 14729, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Subsidies; Clean Energy; Pricing; Electricity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions
    • D47 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Market Design

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