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White certificates and competition
[Certificats blancs et concurrence]

Author

Listed:
  • Claude Crampes

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Thomas-Olivier Léautier

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

Tradable certificates are a good tool to promote economic activities when they increase the social surplus. White certificates are counterproductive, because although they encourage activities aimed at reducing energy consumption, these activities are ‘credence goods', i.e. goods whose real quality cannot be verified. They therefore lead to opportunistic behavior by professionals of building renovation and heating system installation. In order to make the system virtuous, certificates should guarantee the results actually measured, instead of ex ante technical evaluations. Given the cost of controls, the accuracy of the declarations should be ensured by heavy penalties for infringements, which is not feasible when companies are too small. Concentration in the building renovation sector should therefore be encouraged, respecting a trade-off between the collective benefit of having large companies responsible for energy performance and the risk of abuse of a dominant position or collusion by these same companies

Suggested Citation

  • Claude Crampes & Thomas-Olivier Léautier, 2021. "White certificates and competition [Certificats blancs et concurrence]," Post-Print hal-03164801, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03164801
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03164801v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Meredith Fowlie & Michael Greenstone & Catherine Wolfram, 2015. "Are the Non-monetary Costs of Energy Efficiency Investments Large? Understanding Low Take-Up of a Free Energy Efficiency Program," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(5), pages 201-204, May.
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    5. Louis-Gaëtan Giraudet & D. Finon, 2014. "European experiences with white certificate obligations: A critical review of existing evaluations," CIRED Working Papers hal-01016110, HAL.
    6. Wirl, Franz, 2015. "White certificates — Energy efficiency programs under private information of consumers," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 507-515.
    7. Christensen, Peter & Francisco, Paul & Myers, Erica & Nogueira Meirelles De Souza, Mateus, 2019. "Decomposing the Wedge: Mechanisms Driving the Gap Between Projected and Realized Returns in Energy Efficiency Programs," 2019 Annual Meeting, July 21-23, Atlanta, Georgia 291226, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
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    Cited by:

    1. Olivier Blanchard & Christian Gollier & Jean Tirole, 2023. "The Portfolio of Economic Policies Needed to Fight Climate Change," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 15(1), pages 689-722, September.

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