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Using Ex Post Data to Estimate the Hurdle Rate of Abatement Investments – An Application to the Swedish Pulp and Paper Industry and Energy Sector

Author

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  • Katrin Millock

    (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Céline Nauges

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

  • Åsa Löfgren

    (Department of Economics, Göteborg University - GU - Göteborgs Universitet = University of Gothenburg)

Abstract

We propose a method for estimating hurdlerates for firms' investments in pollution abatement technology, using expost data. The method is based on a structural option value model where thefuture price of polluting fuel is the major source of uncertainty facing thefirm. The econometric procedure is illustrated using a panel of firms fromthe Swedish pulp and paper industry, and the energy and heating sector from2000 to 2003. The results indicate a hurdle rate of investment of almost 3in the pulp and paper industry and almost 4 in the energy and heating sector.

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  • Katrin Millock & Céline Nauges & Åsa Löfgren, 2007. "Using Ex Post Data to Estimate the Hurdle Rate of Abatement Investments – An Application to the Swedish Pulp and Paper Industry and Energy Sector," Post-Print halshs-00272041, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00272041
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00272041
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    option value; fuel price uncertainty; carbon emissions abatement; price uncertainty; panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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