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Abstract:
Temperature influences our notion of comfort and thus the ways we equip, heat, and cool our homes in part reflect this. This paper views electricity use in part as a phenomenon of adaptation to changes in weather and provides estimates of climate change impacts on electricity consumption in Europe. Constructing a data set on weather across a panel of European countries, we employ a concept of comfort which relates electricity consumption to outdoor temperatures, to estimate the parameters of electricity demand. The results suggest that random weather variations have a statistically significant impact on residential electricity demand. With climatic changes, Northern Europeans will reduce their heating demand and Southern Europeans will increase their cooling demand. On average, the results suggest that climate change will reduce European energy demand. But the magnitude of this net benefit is small, and likely less important than other changes such as income.

Panel Data, Electricity Demand, Elasticities, Climate Change, Heating, and Cooling Degree Days, Europe

Abstract:
There is a debate among policy analysts about whether fuel taxes alone are the most effective policy to reduce fuel use by motorists, or whether to also use mandatory standards for fuel efficiency. A problem with a policy mandating fuel economy standards is the "rebound effect," whereby owners with more efficient vehicles increase vehicle usage. If an important part of negative externalities from transport are associated with vehicle kilometers (accidents, congestion, road wear) rather than fuel consumption, the rebound effect increases negative externalities. Taxes and standards should be mutually supportive because fuel taxes often meet political resistance. Over time, fuel efficiency standards can reduce political resistance to fuel taxes. Thus, by raising fuel efficiency standards now, politicians may be able to pursue higher fuel tax paths in the future. Another argument in support of fuel efficiency standards and similar policies is that standards to a greater extent than taxes can be announced in advance and still be credible and change the behavior of inventors, firms, and other agents in society. A further argument is that standards can be used with greater force and commitment through international coordination.

Transport Economics Policy & Planning, Transport and Environment, Environmental Economics & Policies, Energy Production and Transportation, Oil Refining & Gas Industry

Abstract:
In a congested city with air pollution like Bangkok, there are gains to analyzing and addressing them in coordination. Higher speed, tremendously valuable in itself for firms and households, also reduce the costs of air quality improvements.