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ID: 109314

Cross-border integration in the European electricity market. Ev / Balaguer, Jacint

Balaguer, Jacint	Journal Article
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2011.

Summary/Abstract

This paper examines the electricity market integration process in two European areas based on the pricing behavior of Norwegian and Swiss exporters. The aim is to gain evidence for the period after the adoption of the "Second Legislative Package" (2003). The pricing behavior of Norwegian exporters indicates that the wholesale markets for Denmark and Sweden are highly integrated. Moreover, results are fully compatible with the existence of a very competitive marketplace for electricity. This clearly contrasts with the evidence provided by Swiss exporters. In this last case, analysis revealed differences in pricing-to-market behavior between Italy, France and Germany, which indicates that exporters take advantage of international market segmentation and divergences between market structures. This outcome provides a reasonable explanation as to why price differences between countries cannot be fully attributed to transmission costs, as has been claimed in previous research. We also found cross-country convergence in levels of markups and in pricing-to-market behavior of the Swiss exporters for the first part of the period that was analyzed. The evidence is fully consistent with an initial impulse toward market integration originated by reforms implemented at the beginning of the last decade.

Key Words

European Integration ; Electricity Market ; Pricing - to - Market

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ID: 176662

Do classes of gas stations contribute differently to fuel prices? evidence to foster effective competition in Spain / Balaguer, Jacint; Ripollés, Jordi

Balaguer, Jacint	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

Despite the relatively large number of gas stations reached in Spain after decades of sectorial reforms, pre-tax fuel prices in the country remain systematically among the highest in the EU. The literature provides evidence suggesting that a low intensity of competition in the retail distribution could contribute to these casual observations. With the purpose of shedding light on ways to design effective competition measures, we conduct an empirical analysis of more than ten million observations containing information about prices, brands, and locations at the station level. This allows us to know whether the exit (entry) of some classes of stations have the ability to reduce the prices of nearby competitors. Our results suggest that the presence in a local market of a station belonging to the network of the dominant market companies will tend to generate prices above the average. This is not only because these stations set higher prices but also because their presence will give rise to overpricing by local competitors. The opposite occurs with the self-advertised as “low-cost” stations. Policy measures promoting the gradual exit of stations associated with the dominant companies seem quite reasonable in view of the commitment to the transition toward transport decarbonization.

Key Words

Spain ; Competition Policy ; Transportation Fuel ; Retail Prices

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