Coase and Cap-and-Trade: Evidence on the Independence Property from the European Electricity Sector

No 1850, Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin from DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research

Abstract: This paper provides an empirical test of the Coase Theorem. I analyze whether emissions are independent from allowance allocations in the electricity sector regulated under the EU's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Exogenous variation in levels of free allocation for power producing installations enables a difference-in-differences strategy. The analysis reveals that a change in al- location levels does not significantly affect emissions, either at the plant or firm level. However, I identify an adjustment period with temporarily lower emissions for some firms. The results suggest that policy makers may use free allocation as a political tool without compromising the program's cost-effectiveness.

Keywords: Coase theorem; independence property; cap-and-trade; EU ETS; greenhouse gas emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L94 Q52 Q54 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28 p.
Date: 2020
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env and nep-reg
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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