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Distorted time preferences and time-to-build in the transition to a low-carbon energy industry

Author

Listed:
  • Christoph Heinzel

    (LERNA - Economie des Ressources Naturelles - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - Comue de Toulouse - Communauté d'universités et établissements de Toulouse - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CEA - Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)

  • Ralph Winkler

    (UNIBE - Universität Bern = University of Bern = Université de Berne)

Abstract

We study the welfare-theoretic consequences of diverging social and private time-preference rates and time-to-build for the transition to a low-carbon energy industry. We show that time-to-build, a prevalent characteristic of capital accumulation in the energy sector, amplifies the distortion induced by the split discount rates. Thus, these two characteristics create in a mutually reinforcing way less favorable circumstances for the introduction of new clean energy technologies as compared to the social optimum, even if welfare losses from emissions are internalized. We discuss resulting policy implications with particular emphasis on the energy sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Christoph Heinzel & Ralph Winkler, 2011. "Distorted time preferences and time-to-build in the transition to a low-carbon energy industry," Post-Print hal-02644272, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02644272
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-010-9431-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Nyambuu, Unurjargal & Semmler, Willi, 2020. "Climate change and the transition to a low carbon economy – Carbon targets and the carbon budget," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 367-376.
    2. Maik T. Schneider & Christian Traeger & Ralph Winkler, 2010. "Trading Off Generations: Infinitely-Lived Agent Versus OLG," CER-ETH Economics working paper series 10/128, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich.
    3. Greiner, Alfred & Gruene, Lars & Semmler, Willi, 2014. "Economic growth and the transition from non-renewable to renewable energy," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(4), pages 417-439, August.
    4. Wenli Cheng & Dingsheng Zhang, 2021. "Optimal Environmental Tax-Subsidy Regime in the Presence of Increasing Returns," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 22(2), pages 525-540, November.
    5. Grischa Perino & Maximilian Willner, 2019. "Rushing the Impatient: Allowance Reserves and the Time Profile of Low-Carbon Investments," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 74(2), pages 845-863, October.
    6. Schneider, Maik T. & Traeger, Christian P. & Winkler, Ralph, 2012. "Trading off generations: Equity, discounting, and climate change," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(8), pages 1621-1644.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate

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